The stories of the people seeking help from the Empty Stocking Fund are equal parts heart wrenching and inspiring.
The pieces feature our neighbors and friends. They are struggling, financially and otherwise, with Christmas’s approach. They desperately want to provide a good holiday for their children but must balance that desire with the reality of providing for the family’s basic needs.
Yet they are resilient. They are eking out a living while providing for their children and, in some cases, other family members. Their stories touch our hearts - and make us dig into our wallets.
Credit: Empty Stocking Fund
Credit: Empty Stocking Fund
The generosity of this community is so moving. The Empty Stocking Fund raised $68,758 between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Part of the editing duties for the Empty Stocking Fund stories is copying and pasting the daily donations report from an email into our content management system. We, as editors, format that information line by line.
The size of each donation varied and underscored the care Savannahians have for others – we are eager to give. Some gave $5,000; others $5. No matter the amount, the act of helping others is priceless.
The leader of one of our Empty Stocking Fund partners, the Salvation Army’s Paul Egan, put it best, saying, “Celebrating the first Christmas gift ever, the Angels sang about peace and goodwill. Through the Empty Stocking Fund we have seen beautiful goodwill extended to the children and families The Salvation Army serves. Our prayer is that in the new year, peace might find a home in the heart of each person we have blessed and every kind soul that has given of themselves to make it possible.”
The following is a list of donations received since Dec. 18. Previous donors were acknowledged in the daily Empty Stocking Fund stories that published between Thanksgiving and Dec. 23.
Donations
W.J. & Angela Southerland: $50
Edwin & Ellen Gilliard & Family: $150
Pam: $100
In memory of Barron C. Burke: $50
In memory of Greg Sloan, Linda Sloan, "Jimbo" Allen from Martha & Erv Sloan: $150
Mary & Edwin Tritch, Jr.: $100
Bernd & Stephanie Rendall: $250
Anonymous: $200
Anonymous: $100
In memory of Mr. & Mrs. Roosevelt Wise, Dr. & Mrs. George Brunson, Sr., Rev. & Mrs. William Blackshear & Deceased Family Members: $200
Santa's Dancing Elves @ Expeditors Intl.: $3,630
In Memory of Geima, Papa, Nana & Granddaddy: $100
John & Stephanie Roche: $200
In memory of Esther & Louis C. Mathews: $150
In memory of Big Pop, Lorenzo Magwood: $75
In memory of my husband Lorenzo Magwood: $100
Bob & Carole Michna: $250
Jack, Madeline, Thomas, Bailey & Henry: $100
In memory of Jim McAleer: $100
In loving memory of Karen Elizabeth Willis: $56
Anonymous: $100
Dr. Brion S. Berg: $150
Darrell & Elmira Goforth: $50
In memory of Elisabeth Lipp: $50
Wilmington Island UMC Friendship Class: $100
Joan C. Fraser: $50
Palestine Chapter 240 Order of the Eastern Star: $151
Diantha Barstow: $100
Landings Women's Golf Association: $3,167
Robin D. Noll: $500
Compton Family: $100
Laurel & Robert McCorkle III: $1,000
Anonymous: $1,000
St. Paul's Greek Orthodox Church: $300
In memory of Steve Smith: $500
Anonymous: $100
Elena: $25
Peter & Cynthia Calder: $100
Ann & Joseph Wilson, Jr.: $150
Saint Nicholas Society of Savannah Celebrating our 58th Anniversay & in memory of our Patriarch Eddie Bell, Members Walter Carson, Kenny Williams, Sam Inglesby, Jess Chappell & Associate Don McElveen: $1,050
William J. Massey: $150
In loving memory of Al Wing & Jim Mills: $150
Thomas S. Gray, Jr.: $200
Anonymous: $25
In memory of Thomas J. Durrence: $100
Anonymous: $300
In honor of the staff of GHC: $50
In memory if Kaye Kole by Connie & Tom Glaser: $100
St. Pius C Alumni Association: $200
M.N. & C.J. Matthee: $500
In memory with love of J. Robert Logan, Jr. by his brothers, Lawton & Clarkson: $50
In loving memory of Mrs. Helen Gignilliat Connerat & Col. & Mrs. Joseph A. Logan, Jr. by Dr. & Mrs. J. Robert Logan: $50
In memory of H. Hitchell Dunn, Jr. from E.S.D., E.D.S., E.M.D.: $100
Anonymous: $50
Anonymous: $100
In honor of Mary H. Caputo, RN: $100
In Honor of SCDS 5th Grade Teachers by Hayes Culver: $50
In Honor of SCDS 8th Grade Teachers by Helen Culver: $50
Gerald D. Halterman: $40
Patricia & James Wann, Jr.: $100
Gail & John O'Meara: $100
Wilbur J. Hartmann: $25
In honor of Bill, Jeff & Jim: $75
Employees of Neurological Institute of Savannah: $3,021
Julia Mikell: $500
Greg Plaunt: $250
Pamela O'Quinn: $250
Tom Hansen: $25
James Taylor: $20
Tara Edwards: $15
Susan Dischner: $100
Pamela Freedy: $45
In loving memory of Judge Hearn: $100
In loving memory of Randy Johnson: $100
In memory of my mother Marcia Lebos, Love David Lebos: $32
In memory of the deceased Sullivan & Hagan Family members: $100
In memory of Bill & Mary Jane Spangler: $100
Anonymous: $50
Paul Hudson: $100
Tracey Renzi: $25
In loving memory of Ronald Kolman: $100
Lia Jones: $100
Damien & Dante Heard: $75
Shandy Moss: $25
Joseph Buttner, Jr.: $50
About the Empty Stocking Fund
Founded in 1971, the Empty Stocking Fund collects donations as a way to help families in need during the holiday season. The newspaper promotes and raises money for the fund held by the Savannah Community Foundation.
The Salvation Army and the United Way of the Coastal Empire facilitate the program. The United Way uses its information and referral call center to screen applicants and the Salvation Army provides qualified applicants with needed help.
The Savannah Community Foundation holds the account and collects and tallies the donations. The Savannah Morning News uses the promotional strength of its digital and print platforms to promote the effort and designates funds for the agencies providing the direct assistance.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah area readers donate $68,758 to Empty Stocking Fund
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