Kocha, 28, moved to Florence to get a better job, but hasn’t had luck in finding one that pays more than minimum wage.
“It’s hard living paycheck to paycheck,” she said.
Kocha said she has other skills, including experience with a forklift, and she has aspirations of becoming a nurse.
She said she plans to begin a certified nursing assistant and phlebotomy program next year, but it has been difficult to pursue that dream because of the lack of day care for her three children: a 4-year-old boy and two girls aged 2 and 9 months.
Kocha said she heard about the Salvation Army’s Empty Fund last year when seeking help to pay some bills.
Kocha said whatever she’s able to receive will be a blessing during these hard economic times.
She said when she’s able to get back on her feet, she hopes she’s able to help someone in need, too.
The Empty Stocking Fund has been providing relief to needy people for 27 years. It is a joint effort between the Salvation Army and the Morning News to bring Christmas to impoverished and low-income families in six Pee Dee counties.
With the help of the Empty Stocking Fund, the Salvation Army was able to give assistance to 868 families during the 2007 holiday season. Total individuals served, including the families, were 8,458.
Last year, the fund raised $77,992.06 to help families in Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion and Marlboro counties.
- People who would like to help families struggling through the holidays can donate to the Empty Stocking Fund in several ways:
- By calling the Salvation Army at (843) 662-4461
- By dropping off toys or monetary donations to the Salvation Army office building at 2210 Hoffmeyer Road in Florence
- By giving monetary donations at any Florence BB&T bank branch: 605 S. Irby St., 1831 W. Evans St., and 407 W. Second Loop Road. Checks should be made payable to the Empty Stocking Fund, c/o Salvation Army.
- Other ways to help the Salvation Army make Christmas brighter for those in need include:
- Donating at a Salvation Army Christmas kettle
- Adopting a family by dropping off gifts at the Salvation Army by Dec. 15 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
- Donating new, unwrapped toys for children through age 12, which will be distributed from the Salvation Army’s toy shop Dec. 23.
The Empty Stocking Fund not only accepts monetary and gift donations, but also food and clothing.The Empty Stocking Fund form can be found on Page 3A of Saturday's Morning News.
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