How Charlotte Observer readers helped ‘provide joy’ again for kids around the holidays
Charlotte Observer readers donated nearly $120,000 to the paper’s Empty Stocking Fund this holiday season to help local families in need, Salvation Army officials said this week.
The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte’s Angel Tree program matches children in need with anonymous donors who buy them presents for Christmas, and provides senior citizens with gifts. In cases where donors didn’t step up, Charlotte Observer readers covered the expense by giving to the Empty Stocking Fund.
The Observer has sponsored the Empty Stocking Fund since about 1920. In the past six years, the Empty Stocking Fund has raised over $1 million thanks to Observer readers and their generous spirit. This year’s total was $118,405.
The Angel Tree program helped 1,639 families in Mecklenburg and Union counties this holiday season, including 3,616 children, Salvation Army officials said.
“We wouldn’t be able to serve thousands of families in our community without the support of our many partners who give of their time, talent and treasure to make this program possible,” said Brent Rinehart, director of communications for the local Salvation Army.
“The Salvation Army is proud to partner with The Charlotte Observer and the hundreds of donors to the Empty Stocking Fund to provide joy to children at Christmas,” Rinehart added.
‘Bringing joy’ to families in need
Financial giving to the Empty Stocking Fund was down nearly 18% from the $143,681 given last year, Rinehart said, although a few donations could still be forthcoming.
Rather than the annual fluctuations in giving, “we prefer to focus more on the fact that so many Charlotte citizens trusted us and partnered with us to bring joy to families in need,” Rinehart said.
Many of the donors, he noted, have given to the Empty Stocking Fund for decades.
“It’s impossible to determine the factors that may hinder someone from contributing,” Rinehart said. “What we know is that the Empty Stocking Fund is critical to providing the much-needed financial support to make The Salvation Army’s Christmas assistance program successful.”
Supporters of The Charlotte Observer Empty Stocking Fund have donated millions of dollars over more than a century, he added.
Angel Tree program helped thousands
In addition to helping kids and their families, the Angel tree program also gave gift cards this season to 1,544 seniors and people with disabilities, according to The Salvation Army.
Money from the 2023 Empty Stocking Fund campaign also bought 6,100 toys for the 2024 effort, as well as gift cards for seniors, foster children and adults with disabilities, Salvation Army figures show.
This year, 318 people gave to the Empty Stocking Fund campaign, Rinehart said. That averages to $372 per donor.
Over 1,200 volunteers helped Christmas effort
Also this year, at least 1,183 volunteers contributed about 3,790 hours organizing, sorting, packing and distributing gifts at the Salvation Army Christmas Center, Rinehart said.
Another 105 volunteers staffed Angel Tree tables or served the program in other ways, he said.
How to donate
To donate online, visit Empty Stocking Fund CLT.org.
To donate by mail, send checks to: The Salvation Army of Greater Charlotte, PO 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 704-334-4731.