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.
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