EDITORIAL: Empty Stocking Fund worthy cause for locals in need

The Empty Stocking Fund kicks off today for the 28th year in a row to provide holiday relief to needy people in the community.

The fund 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.

The Pee Dee has a history of responding generously to this annual effort, which is needed perhaps now more than ever.

In 2008, the Florence unit provided food, toys and clothing to 4,526 people, 1,226 of whom were children.

“Last year, we served over 700 families, some families with five or six kids,” Program Coordinator Maj. Brenda Grice said.

While some are of the opinion children don’t have to receive toys or gifts to celebrate the holidays, there’s no disputing the fact that food and clothing are basic needs for all families — and not just during the holidays.

And many more people in our community have been going without necessities much longer than expected.

According to the latest figures from the S.C. Employment Security Commission, the number of unemployed people in the state went up by nearly 10,000 in October to about 263,000.

Three of the 10 counties with the highest unemployment rates for October are located in the Pee Dee.

All charitable organizations that serve the Pee Dee and rely on donations to provide their services, like Harvest Hope Food Bank and the American Red Cross, have been desperate for contributions. The depressed economy, combined with an increased number of residents turning to them for assistance, has stretched their limited resources thin.

The Salvation Army is no exception. This year, Grice said, she expected to receive even more applicants for assistance than usual.

“I think what we’re going to see is families that have never needed help before (applying for the program),” she said.

The Empty Stocking Fund cannot provide that assistance without your help.

Those who would like to help families struggling through the holidays can donate to the 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 donating new, unwrapped toys for children through age 12, which will be distributed from the Salvation Army’s toy shop Dec. 22 and 23.

• 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.

Another way to help the fund make Christmas brighter for those in need is to donate at a Salvation Army Christmas kettle.

The Salvation Army also relies on members of the community who are more fortunate to adopt a family for the holidays. They can choose what size family they’d like to help, whether to provide toys, clothing or food, and then drop off new and unwrapped gifts to the Salvation Army office by Dec. 14 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Families will be able to pick up gift bags Dec. 22 and 23.

The Drs. Bruce and Lee Foundation Board again will make an initial $10,000 donation to the fund. If the community raises at least $20,000 on its own, the foundation will match it with another $20,000.

An Empty Stocking Fund donation form can be found on page 2D of today’s edition, as well.

We know times are tough for everyone these days. But every little bit you can give at the holidays, whether to the Empty Stocking Fund or to another worthy cause, will make a big difference in the lives of those struggling just to survive.

— Unsigned editorials represent the views of this newspaper. Editorial Board members are Mark Laskowski (regional publisher), James Bennett (regional editor), Sam Bundy (sports editor), Kimberly Ginfrida (news editor), David Johnson (regional circulation director), Charles Tomlinson (Lake City News & Post editor) and Jackie Torok (metro editor).