Early in their 45-year marriage, Dick and Beth Lunney took in two foster children. One of the boys was later adopted by a family. The other, Dick suspects, probably remained in foster care the rest of his childhood.

Dick says the experience gave the couple a "soft spot in our hearts" for people in tough situations, many through no fault of their own. And it's those feelings that led the family to begin donating to the Empty Stocking Fund - a tradition they've kept now for 15 years.

The Lunneys, who are both 66, started giving after reading stories in the Observer about people helped by the fund. Dick says all the tales have been poignant and touching. But he's particularly struck by how much need remains in the community.

"The really truly sad thing is you run a story every day for a month and a half," Lunney said. "For 15 years, we've been doing this and you hope (the hardships) would go away, but they don't."

Lunney says the family plans to keep giving to the Empty Stocking Fund, and he's pleased when he spots the name of someone else he knows on the donors' list.

And Beth likely will write a check today for the family's 2011 donation, the same thing she's done every Dec. 1 for more than a decade.

Bethea: 704-358-6013