ELIZABETHTOWN — The 2015 version of the annual Empty Stocking Fund by the Bladen Journal, in partnership with the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, has been underway for two weeks, and the coffers already show a balance of $1,210 contributed by early donors.
“We’re off to a terrific start, much faster than in previous years,” said W. Curt Vincent, GM/editor of the Bladen Journal. “But there is a long way to go.”
The goal for the Empty Stocking Fund this year has been set at $12,000 — but if an extra $3,000 is raised, it will ignite a special event.
“If we reach that lofty amount of $15,000 this year, I will take up lofty residence atop the Bladen Journal building for the weekend after Christmas,” Vincent said. “Rain, sleet or snow … I’ll be up there IF we hit that mark.”
Last year, the effort brought in $7,825 and assisted 156 children in the county to have a brighter Christmas season.
The Bladen County Department of Social Services has already been accepting applications for the Empty Stocking Fund, and will continue to do so through Wednesday, Nov. 18. Once the donation period draws to a close, the Bladen Journal will request the applications for the specific number of children the Empty Stocking Fund can assist from DSS.
Contributions to come in already for the Empty Stocking Fund include the following:
— $250 in honor of Gladys Pharr and Mary Gibson
— $150 from Vineyard Golf at White lake
— $100 from Forestree of Elizabethtown
— $100 from Marvin and Nancy Tatum of Elizabethtown
— $100 from Charles and Catherine Devane
— $50 from Andrew and Adrianne Petitt
— $200 in memory of Lisa K. Newman from Colby Newman
— $10 from Jamie C. Ayscue
— $200 from Mayor Sylvia Campbell
— $25 from William T. Bordeaux
— $25 from anonymous
Contributions to the Empty Stocking Fund will be collected by the Bladen Journal through Wednesday, Dec. 9, and can be made in cash or check by dropping it off at the Bladen Journal office in downtown Elizabethtown or mail (checks only) to Bladen Journal, c/o Empty Stocking Fund, P.O. Box 70, Elizabethtown, N.C. 28337.
Donations may be made in memory or honor of someone, or anonymously. All contributions will be listed soon after they are received in the Bladen Journal.