Over $5,000 donated to Empty Stocking Fund by community

Sharon Myers, The Dispatch
·3 min read
The Empty Stocking Fund provides Christmas for local children who would likely go without presents otherwise.
The Empty Stocking Fund provides Christmas for local children who would likely go without presents otherwise.

For over 40 years, the community has come together to provide gifts for older children who may normally be left without Christmas presents during the holiday season.

This year $5,430 in donations were collected to be used to purchase gifts for residents at the American Children’s Home in Lexington.

The Empty Stocking Fund was created in 1981 by former Dispatch publisher Joe Sink, who died last year, and former Dispatch executive editor Ralph Simpson.

Donations from the community are used to buy Christmas presents for needy children between the ages of 12 and 17. Previously, the Dispatch partnered with The Salvation Army of Davidson County to distribute gifts for local children.

This year the Empty Stocking Fund has teamed with the American Children’s Home in Lexington to provide presents to some of the home’s 28 residents and provide needs for one of the campus cottages, including upgrades in electronics, bedding, blankets and more.

There are between 28-35 residents at the American Children’s Home and many of them are older, ranging in ages from 12 to 19. Representatives with the organization stated they appreciated the assistance from the Empty Stocking Fund because many charities focus on the younger children during the holidays, leaving out the older ones.

Last year, the Empty Stocking Fund received $21,452 in community donations. A large portion of that came from a fundraiser Lexington artist Bob Timberlake hosted for the Empty Stocking Fund to honor Sink, his late friend.

“We are grateful for the community’s support to keep this going for 41 years,” said Allison Myers, coordinator of the Empty Stocking Fund. “It would not be possible without the community’s generous support.”

Empty Stocking Fund Donations 2022

  • Casey Swicegood (In memory of Randy Swicegood by Amy, Casey, Chad, Hope & Parker, $150

  • Winston Concepts, $250

  • Friedberg Moravian Church Covenant Class, $200

  • Janice Jenkins, $300

  • In memory of Uncle C.W. Long by Kelly and Crystal Price, $100

  • In memory and honor of all members of Memorial Evangelical & Reformed Church, $100

  • In memory of Libby Sink; in memory of Earl Heaster by Martha & Robert Adams, $25

  • In memory of Paul D. Mathews ($250); in memory of Tom Mathews ($250); in honor of Dorothy Mathews ($250); in honor of Paula Turlington ($250), in honor of employees of SII Dry Kilns ($250), $1,250

  • In memory of Chris Rhodes given by Lexington Sr. High School Class of 1972 Shopping Club, $245

  • In honor of Sunday school teachers Friendship/Good Samaritan Class, Center Church of Welcome, $100

  • Union Baptist Church, $500

  • New Mt. Vernon United Methodist Church, $190

  • In memory of my dad, Thomas Young, and in honor of my mother, Louise Young, by Faye Young, $30

  • John and Betty Knox, $75

  • Brenda & Steve Cripliver, $100

  • In memory of Averette and Edith Brumfield by Alan and Kelly Brumfield, $100

  • Women of The Moose, $50

  • Hoyle and Mary Wagner, $100

  • In memory of our parents, Paul and Irene Streetman, and our brother, Bruce Streetman, from Diane S. Hedrick & Paul Streetman Jr., $30

  • In honor of Lillie Laughter and Kelsey Richardson Laughter, $50

  • Anonymous, $50

  • Jeffrey and Barbara Barnes, $100

  • Agape Sunday School Class First United Methodist Church, $200

  • In memory of JoAnn Garitta by Tony Garitta and Sheena Horton, $50

  • Given by the Robert L. Link family in memory of these deceased members: Rober L., Myrtle, Reid, Lynn, Stella, Mary, Bub, Jean, Shawn and Bobby Link, Thelma and Hauser Reid, Dot and Jasper Huffman, $355

  • In memory of Dallas Newsome by Over Hill Coffee Club, $200

  • In honor of all that provide a great service to others in need, Anonymous, $100

  • In honor of our grandchildren; Harper Kittner, Reagan Kitner & Beau Leonard, $30

  • In honor of Talmadge and Ian Silversides by Mal & Jane Grimes, $100

  • Robert McCoy, $100

  • In honor of our grandchildren, $100

  • In honor of my children; Eddie, Mike, Cindy, all my grandchildren, their husbands and great grandchildren John & Joann Eanes , $100

2022 Total: $5,430

This article originally appeared on The Dispatch: Over $5,000 donated to Empty Stocking Fund by community