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Release Date: 12.18.09 | Location:
All Metro Atlanta
| Organization:
The Empty Stokcing Fund
Contact Name: Manda Hunt | Company: The Empty Stocking Fund | Phone: (404) 876-8697 | Cell: (404) 441-3455 | E-Mail: info@emptystockingfund.org
From Dec. 11th through the 20th The Empty Stocking Fund is challenging metro Atlanta residents to help the organization provide parents and guardians of 100 children living in poverty an opportunity to give their children Christmas gifts. For every $20 donation the organization receives, it is able to provide four brand new items for a child in need, including two toys, an educational item (generally a book), and a clothing item, all at no cost to their caregivers.
Although the organization provides gifts for more than 50,000 children each year, the sluggish economy and high unemployment rates have negatively impacted its recipients as well as its regular contributors. In 2008, donations to The Empty Stocking Fund were down approximately 30 percent. As such, the organization is reaching out to metro Atlanta to help make up the difference. “The number of families invited to Santa’s Village increased 12 percent over last year, and although it is too early to know for sure, in light of the fact that the economy has remained weak and the unemployment rate in our area remains high, we fully expect that our donations will be down again in 2009,” said Don Crawford, executive director of The Empty Stocking Fund. Through December 12th, parents and guardians of 22,000 children living in poverty had come to Santa’s Village to select gifts for their children. This week, the number of children served each day has been the highest in the organization’s history at approximately 3,500 each day. Although the organization receives contributions from many of Atlanta’s largest corporations including AMERIGROUP, AT&T, Coca-Cola, Georgia Power, The Home Depot, InterContinental Hotels Group, UPS, and Wachovia, the overwhelming majority of the approximate $1.25 million it requires annually comes from individuals. “This year more than ever, The Empty Stocking Fund needs the support of the Atlanta community,” Crawford concluded. For more information about The Empty Stocking Fund, or to make a donation, please visit www.emptystockingfund.org. All donations are tax deductible. OTHER INFORMATION:About The Empty Stocking Fund
The Empty Stocking Fund empowers parents and guardians of children living at or below the poverty level throughout metro Atlanta by providing them with an opportunity to give their children gifts at Christmas time. Through relationships with wholesale distributors, we purchase brand new items in sufficient quantities to offer a variety of age- and gender-appropriate choices. In December, parents and guardians of children from birth to 13 years of age that are qualified to receive certain benefits through the Department of Family and Children Services, are invited to Santa’s Village, our gift distribution center, where they are able to select gifts for their children. Residents of Clayton, Cobb, Douglas, Fayette, Gwinnett, Henry and Rockdale counties are served through their local DFCS office. Make a donation: http://tinyurl.com/esf-donate |
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