Empty Stocking Fund will help ensure merrier christmas

Last year’s Christmas was rough for Jospehine Serrano, a Florence mother of three.

“One of my kids is disabled, and she was in the hospital and wasn’t able to have a Christmas last year,” she said.

Serrano was worried about this year, as well, until a friend told her about the Salvation Army’s Empty Stocking Fund.

“It helps a lot,” she said. “I’m on one income, and I really couldn’t get what I wanted to get my kids for Christmas this year.”

The Empty Stocking Fund will ensure she can.

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.

The fund recently received a $10,000 donation from the Aiken Foundation, a philanthropic organization run by the Aiken family. The $10,000 donation is an annual gift given by the foundation.

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 in Sunday’s Morning News on page 3B.

Donations to date

Bobby and Kay Carter of Florence, $25; Jennie Lee B. Fowler of Bennettsville, $25; Mary Howle of Quinby, $25; Mary Lynn Williamson of Florence, $25; Garland Bernard of Pamplico, $25; Martha M. Bazen of Florence, $25; Mr. and Mrs. Wayne Hicks Jr. of Florence $25; Anonymous, $50; Anonymous, $50; CB Melton of Florence, $25; Pat Byrd of Florence, $50; Nick and Maureen Roh of Florence, $50; Beverly Baum of Florence, $50; Alan and Anne Floyd of Florence in memory of William Duncan, $100; Allergy, Asthma & Sinus Center Florence, $100; Anonymous, $100; Dr. and Mrs. Richard N. Chapman of Florence, $100; Frances Norris of Florence, $100; Anonymous, $100; Larry Brice of Florence, $100; John S. Fair of Florence in memory of Mildred C. Fair, $100; Anonymous, $100; A Friend of Florence, $200; William R. Blakeney of Hartsville, $200; Anonymous, $250; Mike and Patty Evans of Florence, $25; Mizpah Baptist Church Adult IV S.S. Class of Florence, $25; Alexander B. Coleman of Hartsville, $40; Judy and Jerry Smith of Florence, $50; Jim and Janet DuBose of Florence, $50; Elmer T. and Hannah Nelson of Florence, $50; Benjamin and Starr Ward of Florence, $100; Michie and Peggy McCaskill of Florence, $100; Larry and Sharon of Florence, $100; Anonymous, $100; John Wesley Bible Class of Highland Park United Methodist Church of Florence, $100; Anonymous, $100; Edwin and Mary Gibson of Chesterfield, $125; Kenneth and Joyce Eaton of Florence, $200; Anonymous, $250; HM & Pearl Kyle Foundation Inc. of Flor-ence, $500; J&B C of Florence, $700; M. Mueller of Florence, $15; Nancy and Bob Vilerich of Florence, $50; Florence Welcoming Club, $51; James and Mary Langley of Darlington, $100; Anonymous, $100; John and Mary Bakazan of Dillon in memory of Linza and James Brady, $100; Beard Family of Florence, $250; Cain Funeral Home of Florence, $500; Anonymous, $5,000; Anonymous, $200; John ALT Sunday School of Florence, $50; Mary Cowan of Florence, $25; Helen Jordan of Florence, $25; Gale and Ryan Hoffman of Lydia, $25; Brian and Christy Wallace of Florence, $100; Bob and Alice Braddy of Dillon, $200; Nancy and RL Powell of Johnsonville, $2,000; Aiken Foundation of Florence, $10,000; Catherine A. Medlin of Florence, $200; Baine and Anna Kate of Florence $20; Michael Greenwood of Florence, $100; Sarah Layton Fellowship Class of Timmonsville, $100; Elizabeth Phillips of Florence in memory of Jeannett Waren and honoring the Nichols and Gibbon families, $120.

Total to date: $29,976