Empty Stocking Fund kicks off 28th year of giving holiday help

FLORENCE — The Empty Stocking Fund enters its 28th year Thursday providing holiday cheer to local needy people.

The fund is a joint effort between the Salvation Army and the Morning News to bring Christmas to the Pee Dee’s impoverished families.

Maj. Cape Grice and his wife, Maj. Brenda Grice, head up the fund for the Salvation Army.

As of Nov. 23, they have collected assistance applications from more than 700 families, including more than 1,400 children, Brenda Grice said.

Last year, the Empty Stocking Fund raised $100,036, allowing the Salvation Army to provide assistance to 5,416 people in Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Marion and Marlboro counties.

“Last year we served over 700 families, some families with five or six kids,” Maj. Brenda Grice, the program coordinator, said in a previous interview.

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

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 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.

People also can adopt a family for the holidays — choosing what size family they’d like to help, whether to provide toys, clothing or food, and then dropping off new and unwrapped gifts 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.