Salvation Army’s Empty Stocking Fund date extended
The Empty Stocking Fund is one of the Salvation Army’s major fundraising events along with their Red Kettle Campaign.
This year, Gazette readers have raised $54,294 of the $75,000 goal to date. While this is wonderful community support, the Salvation Army is still shy of the goal needed so they have decided to extend the opportunity to donate to their cause through Feb. 2.
Many people know the Salvation Army as a shelter where the homeless can find food and a warm place to sleep. While that is true, the Salvation Army of Gaston and Lincoln counties offers more to the community.
Donations to the Empty Stocking Fund help families and individuals in the area all year long. During Christmas many children receive gifts from the Angel Tree that would otherwise wake Christmas morning to a true empty stocking. Dinner is served daily at the Salvation Army’s Center of Hope. Last month volunteers helped serve over 1,200 meals, helped distribute over 700 food boxes and helped hand out over 900 pieces of clothing.
Donations are also used by the Salvation Army to support its many community programs.
The Salvation Army Boys and Girls Club offers affordable after-school and summer programs for children and teens in the area. This program offers a safe and caring environment that empowers them to excel in school and become good community members.
The Salvation Army supports the senior Catherine Booth Apartments with activities like lunch, bingo, weekly field trips to grocery stores, Walmart and drug stores, fitness classes and special programs featuring guest speakers and performances.
All of these services are part of the Salvation Army along with serving meals, offering bathing and laundry facilities, clothes and food pantries, providing temporary transition housing for men, women and families for a 30- to 90-day period and a cold weather shelter for one-night stays when the temperature is below freezing.
Most recent donations include:
$1,500 Anonymous
$250 from Floyd and Rita Farmer
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Salvation Army’s Empty Stocking Fund date extended
