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Features
Over 900 served by Fannin Empty Stocking
BY BRIANA ARRINGTON, STAFF WRITER
Thursday, January 8, 2009 3:34 PM CST
News Observer photo/Dub Joiner
Kayla Allen, Nekeda Moore and Chris Quinn, from left, were three of Terry Callihan’s construction class students at Fannin County High School who helped pack food into boxes given away by the Fannin County Empty Stocking Program. Besides packing boxes, students also collected food for the drive and delivered the boxes to Empty Stocking volunteers.
News Observer photo/Glenn Harbison
Fannin County High School band members Sheila Allen and Mark Craig carry bags filled with toys and clothes for less fortunate children in Fannin County. They were only two of many band members who helped during Empty Stocking shopping nights.
Photo by Caleb Harbison
Junior Farmer checks over some of the bags ready for distribution by Empty Stocking. Farmer is just one of many community volunteers who gave their time to the annual Christmas effort.
News Observer photo/Glenn Harbison
Kristin Gunia, who served at Empty Stocking secretary, double checks a bag of Christmas goodies before it is tied for distribution.
President Amy Mason said she was nothing short of amazed at all that had accomplished during the year. “It makes me proud to live in Fannin County,” she said.
Empty Stocking is a completely volunteer organization that makes Christmas special for children who would have otherwise had a bleak holiday. Empty Stocking efforts include organizing fundraisers, volunteers, donations and events all year round.
As 2008 came to an end, help had been provided to 909 children.
A total of $90,761 had been raised, according to Empty Stocking Treasurer Jackie Seabolt.
“There is no way we could be successful without the community’s help,” Mason said. “We started the year with less than $1,000 in the bank, and predicted we would serve more children than ever before.”
“Faith that God was on our side and belief that the community would come through kept us strong,” Mason said.
The year-end totals proved early estimates were true. In 2007, Empty Stocking reported serving 731 children while spending a little over $70,000.
Empty Stocking announced a fundraising goal of $86,250 in mid-2008, The goal was surpassed by over $4,000.
Also, because of the anticipated increase in children needing help, Empty Stocking board members decided to make a major change in the program in 2008.
In prior years, angel trees were located throughout Fannin County and individuals adopted the angels. They would then buy the necessities and gifts listed on the angel and return them to Empty Stocking.
Mason explained that in 2009, “we decided to let everyone shop at the same time, doing away with the angel trees.”
Empty Stocking set up eight shopping nights at Wal-Mart in East Ellijay and invited residents to come shop for angels.
“The change worked great,” Mason said. Sean Ratcliff, the Wal-Mart manager and former Blue Ridge resident, and his staff were “fantastic, they made a tremendous difference.”
“Of course, we couldn’t have done it without all the volunteers who showed up from Blue Ridge to shop,” Glenn Harbison, Empty Stocking vice president, said.
Countless individuals showed up to help, plus groups from several area churches, United Community and Appalachian Community Banks, and countless businesses.
Members of the Fannin County High School band showed up on several nights, and made a real difference in the efforts, Mason said. “They did an outstanding job.”
Things went so well shopping was completed in six nights instead of the eight that had been scheduled. “We couldn’t have done it without the community,” Harbison said.
Empty Stocking also held its second annual Can-A-Thon to provide food boxes during the Christmas distribution.
“Terry Callihan and his construction class at Fannin County Vocational School took over this project and did a fantastic job for us,” Harbison said. The class collected the food from participating businesses, boxed the items, and then delivered the boxes to Empty Stocking.
“Just like last year, the businesses that participated made the effort a success,” Harbison said. Altogether, 101 food boxes were distributed.
Also, The News Observer held its annual Coat-for-a-Subscription drive for Empty Stocking. Newspaper readers gave 667 new coats to be given to area children.
“Years ago, when we had to buy coats, this was one of the biggest hurdles for our budget to overcome,” Mason said. “The coat drive is a life-saver.”
Prior to these end of the year efforts, Empty Stocking volunteers and several community groups and businesses worked regularly to raise the needed funds.
Efforts included two yard sales, two bike rides, a cut-a-thon, the fill-the-stocking campaign, two softball tournaments, two yard sales and two bingo nights. Also, individual and business donations were sought through letters and visits from Empty Stocking board members.
Empty Stocking board member Kevin Cochran said, “We raised money and had fun while doing it.”
Cochran spearheaded the first softball tournament and helped coordinate the other fundraisers.
The two bingo tournaments were new to Empty Stocking’s fundraising efforts. They were sponsored by the Blue Ridge Kiwanis Club.
Kiwanis director and Empty Stocking board member Ken Williams said the players were very generous.
“People in this area seem to really come together, especially when it comes to issues with children,” Williams said.
“Of course, it took every fundraiser, every volunteer and every donation to make Empty Stocking work,” Harbison said.
“We had so much help, it was unbelievable,” board member Sherry Green said. “There is no way to name everyone, we just want to make sure each and every one who helped or gave understands we truly thank them.”
“It’s sometimes overwhelming to think that times are so hard and yet, the people in this county still give,” Mason said.
When items were distributed in December, in time for Christmas, children signed up for the program received two pairs of pants, two shirts, underwear, shoes, socks, and a variety of personal hygiene items.
“We had a tight budget to work with this year,” Mason explained. “After we got what the children needed, we bought as many toys for them as we could that they had put on their wish lists.”
Deborah White, a single grandmother of three, said if it was not for Empty Stocking her grandchildren would not have much of a Christmas at all.
“They were tremendously helpful,” White said. “I’m so proud that we have a program like Empty Stocking here in Fannin County.”
White has a 16-year-old grandson and two granddaughters that are seven and four years old. White says she barely makes enough to make ends meet, and when board members at Empty Stocking saw her situation, they were more than willing to help.
Every family who participates in Empty Stocking must fill out an application. The board then reviews each case based on an income eligibility scale. Also, emergency situations that arise are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
All of the efforts made to give the children of Fannin County a better Christmas reminded Mason, she said, of the story in the Bible where the woman gave the last penny she had to the church.
“That’s what the people in this community do,” she said. “They give all they have.”
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