Empty Stocking Fund still needs donations

Local News

Discussion

November 24, 2009

Anonymous The Times-Tribune Tue Nov 24, 2009, 08:36 AM EST

By Becky Manley / Staff Writer

Donations are still needed to help make the holidays brighter for about 775 needy children.

The non-profit Southeast Kentucky Empty Stocking Fund provides Christmas gifts to children from struggling families, according to Christina Bentley, member of Corbin’s Rotary Club.

This year’s fundraising goal is $25,000 and, so far, about $3,000 has been raised, according to Joe Caldwell, Rotary Club member and president of the non-profit fund’s board.

The fund started in 1988 as a collaboration between the Times-Tribune and Rotary Club of Corbin. The newspaper continues to serve as a co-sponsor.

During the last few years, the Empty Stocking project has fallen short of serving all the children who have applied for help, organizers said.

“We would like to get as much money as we can by the time we buy the gifts in mid-December,” Caldwell said, adding that the total received by that time will determine how many children the fund will help this year.

Volunteers are also needed to help wrap the gifts Dec. 21 at Corbin Middle School, Bentley said.

The gifts will be handed out to children during a Dec. 22 party at Forest Bowling Lanes in Corbin, Bentley said. Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear is expected to attend the party, Caldwell said.

Each child will receive a wrapped gift, a pair of shoes and six pairs of socks, Caldwell said. Each family will also receive a blanket.

If extra money were available, families would also received a board game, Caldwell said.

Despite the long hours the annual Empty Stocking Fund requires, Caldwell said the reward is seeing the children’s faces when they receive their gifts.

“If you have a heart it makes you feel good to know you’ve helped,” Caldwell said.

To help

People who want to help provide Christmas gifts to needy children should mail checks payable to Southeast Kentucky Empty Stocking Fund, P.O. Box 1789, Corbin, KY 40702-1789. Donations are tax deductible. Volunteers are also needed to help wrap gifts Dec. 21. For more information, call Rotary Club members Christina Bentley, 528-7523 or Joe Caldwell, 606-878-7935.

Text Only

Local News

Police search for suspect in highway beating
It was called by some as “road rage,” but Barbourville Police say last Saturday evening’s fight at a city intersection was definitely an assault. And they are still looking for the man who police say threw the first punch.

May 24, 2012
Woman gets five years for drugs
In U.S. Federal Court Wednesday, Heather A. Collins, who was called by Judge Gregory F. Van Tatenhove as a “kind of leader for the group,” was sentenced to five years after using prescription forms to acquire various drugs.

May 24, 2012
Father, son rearraigned for meth charges
A son and father were rearraigned Wednesday afternoon in U.S. District Court in London.

May 24, 2012
Hounds hold on
Corbin Coach Rob Ledington rolled the dice after his Redhounds took a 6-0 lead, but it paid off with an 8-7 win over Whitley County as Corbin advanced to the 50th District Championship tonight with an ace up their sleeve.

May 23, 2012 1 Photo
Drugs suspected in fatal Knox County crash
Drug use may have been a factor in a crash Monday in Knox County in which an 11-year-old boy was killed, according to Kentucky State Police Post-10 Harlan Public Affairs Officer Trooper Shane Jacobs and Sgt. Jimmy Young.

May 23, 2012
Marie Rader wins 89th Rep. District Primary
Republican Marie Rader won the primary election for the 89th District House of Representatives.

May 23, 2012
Barton wins another circuit court clerk term
Whitley County voters went with experience when it came to electing the next circuit court clerk, choosing incumbent Gary Barton, according to unofficial election results.

May 23, 2012
Bunch victor in 82nd House District
For incumbent State Representative Regina Petrey Bunch, the votes came in bunches Tuesday night.

May 23, 2012
Voter turnout higher than expected
The election day ran fairly smooth in Whitley, with the exception of several precincts losing power briefly and a few complaints regarding signs being too close to polling places.

May 23, 2012
Kenneth S. Stepp to face Hal Rogers in fall
Two Democrats, Kenneth S. Stepp, of Clay County, and Micheal Ackerman, of Rowan County, running for the Fifth Congressional District ran a heads-together race in the 30-county district.

May 23, 2012
More Local News Headlines

Local News

Search Results

Discussion

Empty Stocking Fund still needs donations

Site Map

Contact Us