Still time to donate to Empty Stocking fund
A place where children can be children and schoolwork is done. This wouldn’t have been possible without your support of The Gazette Empty Stocking Fund.
Each weekday afternoon about 35 kids come to the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club in Lowell where they play, work on their homework, and get important life lessons.
Watching over all that is Sandi Patrick, the club's executive director.
"We try to provide a place where the kids are safe and they can just be kids," said Patrick.
When the children first arrive after school, they head to the gym where they can play and get some of that energy out after sitting behind a school desk all day.
Then it's time for the "Power Hour" when they work on homework. If they haven't brought any assignments from school, they read, or tackle worksheets provided by the Salvation Army. Literacy tops the list of priorities at the club because many children in the program need help with reading. The club has formed a partnership with the local library, which provides programming for different age groups.
Once the homework is done, the children take part in a daily program. Sometimes it's a science or math lesson, other times the arts, or a health-related topic like eating nutritious foods, music as well as Salvation Army programming that is closely related to scouts.
One of the featured programs, "Smart Moves" focuses on the emotional wellness of our children especially after the last couple years they have had during Covid and building resiliency in our children.
"We want our children to learn to interact with others, to grow up to be good citizens," said Patrick.
Because participants come from five different schools in the Gastonia area, the club is a place where they can form friendships with kids they might not have met if it hadn't been for the club.
"We have quite a few kids who have been with our club for years," the executive director said. "They've grown up together and sometimes even their parents become friends."
Patrick, who took over as executive director in 2018, has deep roots in the Salvation Army. Her parents were Corps officers for 40 years.
"I've never known anything but the Salvation Army," said Patrick who is from Buffalo, New York. "My whole life has been working with kids."
She holds a master's degree in social work with a concentration in family services. She credits her call to her parents.
"I think a lot of it stems from what I saw my parents do," she said. "I want to provide for these children the same opportunities I had when I was younger."
That's where you come in. Without your support of the Gazette Empty Stocking Fund, none of this would be possible. The club currently charges $40 per week for children who ride the bus from their school to the club, or $45 for kids that are picked up after school. Most children spend about 15 hours a week at the club after school.
"We wouldn't be able to operate without grants, support from other agencies, and of course the Empty Stocking Fund and Red Kettle campaigns," she said. "Money raised sustains us through the entire year. What we raise at Christmas is what we use to operate our programs for the entire year."
Due to the ongoing restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, The Gazette will no longer serve as a drop-off point for contributions.
Donations are to be made by check to The Salvation Army with the memo line noted as “Empty Stocking Fund.” Mail contributions should be sent to The Salvation Army, P.O. Box 1094, Gastonia, N.C. 28053.
The Gazette will provide regular updates on the campaign as it progresses. The goal is $100,000 and the final total will be announced on Christmas Eve.
Recent Empty Stocking donations
$200 from Preceptor Beta Alpha Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi
$50 in memory of Roger K. Bollinger, "Pop," by Keith and Patti Bollinger, Megan Bollinger and Paul Kelley
$1,000 from William Arrowood
$50 in memory of Kelly Ann Gholson and Emma Grace Loftis
$100 from Lyndia and Bromley Sargent
$250 in memory of Peggy and Gene Wallace, by Leslie and Mike Wallace
$50 thank you for all you do in serving those in need in our community. Have a blessed Christmas and New Year. From Becky Vananwerp
$500 from Rita and Floyd Farmer
$100 in memory of Barry McCoig from Dana and Joel Wolfe
$500 in honor of 0ur Patients and staff by Piedmont Adult & Pediatric Medicine Associates, PA.
$500 from Anna Greene, 161 Flea Market, LLC
$100 in memory of Barry McCoig, from Aunt Brenda, Buddy & Kim
$200 in memory of Walter and Billie May Carroll, by Theron & Ann Ward.
$1,000 from The Roberts Law Firm
$27,900 from The Charles and Irene Nanney Foundation
$1,000 from Sen. David Hoyle and family
$100 in memory of Sonny Montgomery, from anonymous
$100 in memory of Zelma York, from anonymous
$500 in honor of Joe & Diane Slater and in memory of Hazel & Garfield Harrison, from Shelia Slater
$100 in memory of Duffre & Ruth McAlister, by Nancy and Robert Harris
$200 in memory of Bob Harris, by Nancy and Robert Harris
$200 in memory of Justin Britton, by Priscilla Britton
$25 in honor of Jim & Anne Carriel, by Gwin & Sally Hilton
$300 in loving memory of our parents, Ray and Dot Jimison and Sandy and Lois Fields, and brothers, Sonny and Kevin Fields, by Jeff and Lynn Jimison
$100 in loving memory of the Rev. & Mrs. James Neely and Callie C. Neely, and in Honor of Cecilia James, from Howard Neely
$500 in honor of, and thankfulness for their friendship to Tim and Mimi Helms, Bill and Price Thrower, Haynes and Laura Murdoch, Phil and Kathy Kotecki, the Clay Family and John and Troy Merritt, by Jim and Anne Carriel
$43,125 of $100,000 goal is the total of the Empty Stocking Fund to date.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Gaston County has not filled the Empty Stocking for Christmas
