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Donations start slow
By Mary Madewell
Published December 2, 2009
The Paris News Empty Stocking Fund and other Salvation Army projects are off to a slow start this year, according to Major Tex Ellis of The Salvation Army.
Now in its 16th year, the Empty Stocking Fund benefits The Salvation Army in the non-profit agency’s efforts to help families in need during the holidays. The Empty Stocking fund serves as a drop-off location for cash and check donations, which in turn are used to buy toys and other items to fill Christmas cheer bags.
And the need is greater than in past years with more than 800 children to service, Ellis said.
Both Ellis and The Paris News publisher Patrick Graham expressed optimism Tuesday that donations will soon begin to arrive.
“This community has shown it is a generous one,” Graham said. “I’m confident we will begin to get contributions soon.”
Ellis credits the slow economy as the major reason the Christmas effort is running behind the past year’s donations, but said he is optimistic because the people of Paris and Lamar County have always stepped up to fill a need.
“If we continue with this present percentage we may have some difficulty in filling all of our Christmas cheer bags,” Ellis said. I am asking that our community please chip in when they pass a red kettle or one of our area Angel trees and help us get ahead of this as quickly as possible.”
Contribution deadline is Dec. 19 so Salvation Army volunteers can have gifts ready for distribution Dec. 21 and Dec. 22.
“If you have not made your donation or adopted an Angel please do so,” Ellis said. “We are in dire need of toys this year due to the increase of children over last year.”
Ellis noted that the Salvation Army Toy Drive is not to be confused with the Toys for Tots toy drive, sponsored by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. All toys collected by The Salvation Army go to the 804 children pre-approved to receive cheer bags.
A Salvation Army Toy Drive is scheduled at 7 p.m. Friday at Love Civic Center, sponsored by various local vendors and radio stations. Admission is one new unwrapped toy.
“We will also be selling refreshments while you enjoy the music of three great bands composed of The Ace Deuce Band, The Gary Porterfield Blues Band and The Kent & Ryan Acoustic Band,” Ellis said. “We hope you will come out and spend the evening with us and bring a new toy for a boy or girl.”
Traditional Salvation Army Angel trees located at numerous locations are filled with gift tags complete with first name, age, sex and dress, shirt, pants, coat and shoe sizes in addition to special requests to Santa from children named on the tags. The trees are located at WalMart, The Paris News, Bealls Department Store, 1st Federal Bank on N.E. Loop 286 and the Dollar Store in Reno.
Red Kettles, along with traditional bell ringers, are located at WalMart, Krogers, Brookshires, Big Lots, Bealls Department Store, Belks, JC Pennys, Sears, Atwoods and Hobby Lobby. Due to a lack of bell ringers, Ellis said all locations may not be in operation at various times.
“We are believing for a great season and we are really depending on Paris and Lamar county to come through for us
as they have done for so many years,” Ellis said. “Let’s give our children a very merry and blessed Christmas.”
For more information call 903-784-7548 or drop items off at 350 W. Kaufman St.
“Ring our door bell, we may be in the back working,” Ellis said.
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