‘The need is still great.’ Empty Stocking Fund helps Salvation Army Christmas program
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Empty Stocking Fund
Charlotte Observer readers contribute to the fund, which helps with expenses for the Salvation Army’s angel tree program.
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The COVID-19 pandemic led to an unprecedented spike last year in the number of children and families needing holiday gift assistance from donors to the local Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program.
And while the number of families seeking help this year is expected to be down a little, as more people return to the workforce, “the need is still very great,” Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte Major Wilma Mason told the Observer.
“While most would believe that we’re coming out of (the) pandemic, the reality is, The Salvation Army realizes, having worked in disasters for so many years, ...the repercussions of an event go on for years,” Mason said.
Families are still behind on rent, “behind in what they provide for their children,” Mason said. “We believe that we’re going to be picking up many pieces or filling in the gap for families for COVID-related situations for at least the next year or so.”
The Angel Tree program is one of The Salvation Army’s most popular efforts. It matches children in need with anonymous donors who buy them presents for Christmas. Senior citizens and people with disabilities also receive gifts.
In cases where donors don’t step up, Charlotte Observer readers cover the expense by giving to the Empty Stocking Fund, which the Observer has sponsored since about 1920.
Over 8,300 children, seniors and people with disabilities will receive gifts through funds from the Empty Stocking Fund.
Last year, despite the coronavirus pandemic and a faltering economy, Observer readers more than doubled their donations to the Empty Stocking Fund, with giving reaching nearly $350,000, Salvation Army officials said.
Mason and her husband, Todd Mason, are co-area commanders of The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte. They oversee all Salvation Army programs and operations, including the Center of Hope shelter for women and children, and the eight Salvation Army Boys and Girls Clubs.
Inflation in the price of food and goods this year also factors into the need for assistance, Wilma Mason said.
Her message to the community: “We’re all in this together, and we’re so thankful for the generous hearts of the largest and the smallest donors.
“No gift is too small, because every gift adds up to contribute to a family having what they need. It’s just incredible, so thank you for their kindness.”
COVID-19 changed everything
The annual toy distribution is set to kick off on Dec. 16 and last three or four days at a new location: The first floor of the former Sears store at Carolina Place mall in Pineville.
Last year’s COVID-19 prevention measures will remain, including families driving up to receive their gifts instead of walking inside to a crowd of volunteers and fellow recipients, Mason said.
Families once again applied online this year, instead of in-person at the Christmas center.
Help for families
The Salvation Army anticipates serving nearly 6,600 children from about 2,600 families across its service area of Mecklenburg and Union counties, spokesman Brent Rinehart said. (The families also receive a food gift card.)
That’s down from about 8,300 children from nearly 3,800 families last year.
Nearly 1,400 seniors and 400 people with disabilities are expected to receive gift cards this year, Rinehart said. That’s about the same as last year.
“My husband has said this so many times over the years, and it just rings true,” Wilma Mason said. “The Salvation Army would never want a mama or a daddy to have to decide whether to put food on the table, or provide medicine for their kids, or put shoes on their kids’ feet for school, over having something for Christmas.
“If we, as a community, can love on everybody and make sure that everybody has something for Christmas, so that the spirit of Christmas is shared, then I think that is the best feeling we can have,” she said.
Placing early orders
Mason said she and the manager of the Christmas program went to their toy distributor in May to order this season’s toys. That locked in prices before the worst of this year’s inflationary spikes hit, she said.
Their longtime toy distributor, Mercy USA, is based in Lexington.
Consumers have experienced shortages of many goods at stores this year, and Mercy USA found difficulties getting scooters and bicycles for the Angel Tree program, Mason said.
“There is not a scooter in this world to be ordered,” she said. “Bicycles are not something they can order, but they were able to track down skateboards.
“Some things we have to make substitutions for, depending on what is available in the market,” she said. “I have confidence in knowing that every child who comes through the Empty Stocking program will have something for Christmas, because we were able to get (our order) in early and work with the distributor.”
And, if The Salvation Army runs low on dolls, say, Mercy USA is so close that “we literally call our salesperson there, and he’s here in four hours with what we need.”
‘No one left behind’
Although families have already applied for assistance by the deadline this year, any who haven’t and find themselves in an emergency can call 211 to register, Mason said.
If somebody in need calls her or her husband as late as Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, Wilma Mason said, they refer them to the Salvation Army Center of Hope. There, they can pick gifts for their children out of the stock of Empty Stocking Fund-provided toys.
“Your children will have something for Christmas morning,” Mason said she tells a mom or dad seeking help at the last minute because of a lost job or other factors.
“No one gets left behind,” she said. “We just can’t.”
How to donate
To donate to the Empty Stocking Fund online: EmptyStockingFundCLT.org.
To donate by mail, send checks to: The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte, P.O. Box 31128, Charlotte, NC 28231. Make checks payable to The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte and write “Empty Stocking Fund” in the memo line.
Questions concerning your donation? Call 704-716-2769.
We’ll publish all donors’ names.
This story was originally published November 24, 2021 at 6:30 AM.
