Since 1981, The Dispatch’s Empty Stocking Fund has helped provide a Christmas to Davidson County children who may not otherwise have presents under the tree on Christmas morning.
And despite major staffing cuts over the past several years at the local newspaper that has limited who is available to do bookkeeping for the nonprofit and shop for gifts, the fund is continuing to brighten the holidays for local children this year with a new partner.
The Empty Stocking Fund has teamed with the American Children’s Home in Lexington to provide presents to some of the home’s 28 residents and provide needs for one of the campus cottages.
“Some of our kids come here with nothing,” said Paige Wall-Chaney, communications coordinator with ACH. “We appreciate The Empty Stocking Fund and members of the community who help us.”
The items purchased for a cottage helps make it feel more like a home for the children living there. Items include a Smart TV to replace an older model television, candles, board games, bedding, blankets and more.
The fund will also buy Christmas presents for a brother and sister living at ACH. The types of items these siblings requested are a TV, iPad, clothing, makeup, electronic gaming equipment, body care, jewelry and more.
For the past several years, the Empty Stocking Fund has partnered with The Salvation Army to provide Christmas gifts for local children whose names are placed on the Angel Trees. The Dispatch typically purchased the gifts for the older children, who aren’t always chosen from the trees.
At the ACH, the residents, typically 28-35 living on campus, are all older, ranging in age from 12-19. Wall-Chaney explained that typically people focus on the much younger children when it comes to sponsoring a child for Christmas.
“The American Children’s Home has been chosen this year as the recipients of the Empty Stocking Fund,” said Allison Myers, coordinator of the fund. “This is not just providing gifts to some of the residents this year, but also helping with improvements at one of the cottages where the children live.”
Last year, the fund received $21,452 in community donations. A large portion of that came from a fundraiser Lexington artist Bob Timberlake hosted for the Empty Stocking Fund to honor his late friend and ESF creator, Joe Sink. Sink, the former publisher of The Dispatch, and former editor Ralph Simpson created the ESF in 1981.
So far, the ESF has taken in about $3,000 this season and will continue to accept donations. Myers said she hopes the pace of donations pick up so the fund can continue to fulfill the Christmas wishes of local children.
One faithful donor, SII Dry Kiln of Lexington, always sends in a generous donation in memory of the company’s founders and in honor of its employees. Myers said she just received a check for over $1,200 from the company that will be added to the total for this year.
A complete list of donors will run in The Dispatch after Christmas.
“We are grateful for the community’s support to keep this going for 41 years,” Myers said. “It would not be possible without the community’s generous support.
To donate to the Empty Stocking Fund, please send checks, no cash, written to the fund to The Dispatch c/o Empty Stocking Fund, P.O. Box 908, Lexington, N.C. 27293.
Jill Doss-Raines is The Dispatch trending topics and personality profiles senior reporter and is always looking for tips about businesses and entertainment events, secret and new menu items and interesting people in Davidson County. Contact me at [email protected].
