Filling Empty Stockings

Staff Play Santa at Empty Stocking Event

Empty Stocking Fund Volunteers
Dominique Beverly, left, and Rachel Jackson

Freedom staff spent a recent evening filling empty stockings. The charity behind the event, The Empty Stocking Fund, collects toys and gifts for needy kids. It has become a Freedom tradition to support The Empty Stocking Fund each year by collecting goods and filling stockings. Collection bins are at all branches and donations are being accepted through the end of the year.

The work takes place in a warehouse full of collected donations. Volunteers pull together hand-picked selections for each child on the list. Matches are made based on age, gender, reading level, clothes size, and hobbies. Each child receives a variety of items, such as toys, clothes, books, arts and crafts, games and toiletries.

Empty Stocking Fund Volunteers
From L to R, back: Andrea Woodard, Rachel Jackson, Dominique Beverly, Jennifer Terry, Robert Wehland, Susan Tannahill, Undisclosed (with bear). Front: Toni Kanely, Ken Terry

This year The Empty Socking Fund has helped 282 families, including 656 children.