Mother of five needs holiday help from Empty Stocking Fund

Annette is 29 years old, a former Wellman Inc. employee and the mother of five children: three girls aged 13, 5 and 4, and two boys aged 12 and 8.

Annette said it hasn’t been easy trying to find a job after being laid off.

“It’s kind of rough at moment. It’s hard to find jobs,” she said. “Everything is going down and (businesses are) closing.”

She’s hoping the Salvation Army’s Empty Stocking Fund will be able to help her family have a happy holiday.

Annette said her two younger daughters would like a Bratz doll for Christmas, while one son wants a Nintendo Wii.

But she said she would appreciate any help from those who are able to give during these difficult economic times.

“I just hope everything gets back to the way it’s supposed to be,” she said. “I just thank God for whatever they can get.”

The Empty Stocking Fund, which is a joint effort between the Salvation Army and the Morning News, has provided relief to needy people for 27 years.

The Empty Stocking Fund brings 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 donation form is located on Page 6A of today’s edition.