Empty Stocking: Program hits holiday homestretch

Source: The Lima News, OhioDec.迷你倉 15--LIMA -- You've shown your generosity and compassion with loads of firewood, bathtubs and sofas.You've donated clothes, toys, even medical supplies and medical services to people in need, based on the profiles of people in need you've read each day in The Lima News during the past two weeks.And you still have a chance in the next 10 days to bring smiles to the faces of people who feel hopeless during the most hopeful time of the year with a donation to the Empty Stocking Fund."This holiday season, we see how fortunate some of us really are," said Bill Clinger, marketing director for The Lima News. "We encourage people if they're thinking of making a donation to the Empty Stocking Fund to do it as soon as possible so we can make this a better holiday for someone."The annual campaign, led by The Lima News to help applicants through three area agencies, raised $15,140 in cash donations through Friday. That brings its total to nearly $600,000 since the program's inception in 1992.Still, it's short of this year's goal of last year's total of $41,520 and the program's three-straight years of $40,000. There's much good that can come of those donations.This week is the program's payoff week for several agencies. On Saturday, the Bradfield Community Center will hold its Family Holiday Happenings program, bringing gifts and help to the children it helps. The Cheryl Allen Center also has its Empty Stocking-sponsored Breakfast with Santa on Saturday.This year, the program partnered with Kmart to make the donations go farther. Using the company's Kmart Kares progmini storageam, the Empty Stocking Fund purchased cash cards to buy presents for the needy, and Kmart adds 10 percent more onto that card, said Kathy Knox, store manager of the Lima location.Associates at the store will also take the time to pick out appropriate presents for these occasions."We had quite a few associates volunteer to do that," Knox said. "We have some who've been here a long time. It's kind of fun when we get to go shop for kids like this."While cash donations might be down slightly compared to this time last year, Jolene Molaski, marketing coordinator for The Lima News, said she's seen more large items donated to meet specific needs people read about in the newspaper."We've had several elderly couples features who really pulled at your heartstrings," Molaski said. "People just wanted to help."Ultimately, that's what makes the Empty Stocking Program so worthwhile."It's just such a great program," Knox said. "Being able to help kids, especially locally, is a wonderful thing."The Empty Stocking Fund benefits three cooperating agencies, Bradfield Community Center, Cheryl Allen Southside Community Center and the Salvation Army. Money can be donated by sending it to The Lima News, 3515 Elida Road, Lima OH 45807, or by dropping it off at any Superior Federal Credit Union branch. Donations of new toys and nonperishable food items will be accepted at The Lima News office. These stories use assumed names to protect the participants' privacy.Copyright: ___ (c)2013 The Lima News (Lima, Ohio) Visit The Lima News (Lima, Ohio) at .limaohio.com Distributed by MCT Information Services儲存