ELIZABETHTOWN — Although money will still be accepted and put to good use, the Bladen Journal’s annual Empty Stocking Fund effort closed this week on a high note.

Six gifts were received and pushed the total well past the goal of $7,500 for 2009.

Those gifts received included:

— $500 from an anonymous donor.

— $100 from Rusty Hill of Elizabethtown in memory of Ramona Smith.

— $80 from Miriam Clark’s Sunday School class at Elizabethtown Baptist Church.

— $100 from Ammon Grocery & Grill staff and customers.

— $100 from Lacey West Insurance in Elizabethtown.

— $25 from Beth Car Presbyterian Women of the Church in Tar Heel.

That brings the final Empty Stocking Fund total to $8,194.28 for 2009.

“This was a tremendous show of support from those who contributed,” said W. Curt Vincent, editor of the Bladen Journal. “With that money, we will be able to help a lot of children and families with Christmas.”

The Bladen Journal is now in the process of helping 202 children, representing 85 families in Bladen County with gift cards to three local businesses — Leinwand’s, Food Lion and Walmart. That’s an increase over last year’s effort, when the Empty Stocking Fund raised $6,216 and helped 124 children with Christmas.

A complete listing of the donations to the 2009 Empty Stocking Fund is as follows ...

— $50 from K.D. and Nancy Kailbourne of Wellsville, N.Y.

— An anonymous donation in the amount of $500.

— An anonymous donation in the amount of $250.

— A contribution of $50 from the Bladen County Master Gardeners.

— A contribution of $69 from the Family Careers Community Leaders of America.

— $25 from Gwen and Kenneth Thompson of Bladenboro.

— $150 from the Adult II Sunday School class at White Oak Baptist Church.

— $100 from William Collins of Dublin.

— $25 from Carvers Creek United Methodist Women in Council.

— $30 from Leola Pait of Bladenboro.

— $500 from an anonymous donor.

— $100 from Rusty Hill of Elizabethtown in memory of Ramona Smith.

— $80 from Miriam Clark’s Sunday School class at Elizabethtown Baptist Church.

— $100 from Ammon Grocery & Grill staff and customers.

— $100 from Lacey West Insurance in Elizabethtown.

— $25 from Beth Car Presbyterian Women of the Church in Tar Heel.

— $13 in miscellaneous donations.

— $25 from Cephus J. Beatty.

— $100 from Randy Garner.

— $25 from Bethel Township Senior Center.

— $100 from James W. Hill.

— $2,000 from Classic Cruisers Car Club.

— $500 from Special Cleaners.

— $500 from Steve Love.

— $100 from the Clarkton Lions Club.

— $65 from Bethlehem United Methodist Women.

— $25 from Claudia Hester.

— $100 from Teressa McKoy Watts in memory of Eugene Cotton.

— $100 from Harvey and Kathy Iwerks.

— $100 from Richard and Tomye Glenn.

— $880 from Star Telephone and employees.

— $407.28 from Elizabethtown Middle School students.

— $1,000 from Trinity Methodist Church Men’s Club.