The Bladen Journal Empty Stocking Fund, an holiday tradition in Bladen, is officially underway for 2003.

And, thanks to a visit last week from a loyal and generous friend, the current edition of the Fund is off to a great start.

Steve Love of Elizabethtown, who for the past several years has been among the many faithful contributors who have helped the Fund provide for children in need, delivered a check for $1,000 to the Journal office. It was the first official contribution for this year's Empty Stocking Fund campaign.

Since its inception about 25 years ago, the Bladen Journal Empty Stocking Fund has helped literally hundreds of Bladen families provide Christmas cheer for their children. In many of these families, there would have been no Christmas presents had there not been help from the Empty Stocking Fund.

There are never goals set for Empty Stocking contributions-the Fund simply collects all the money it can, then distributes it to those in need. Bladen residents have been generous through the years. Last year, a new record of giving was set as the Fund reached a total of $9,306.88.

Families who feel they need Christmas help are invited to apply for Empty Stocking Fund assistance at the Bladen County Department of Social Services. No applications are accepted at the Journal office. DSS accepts and screens the applications but makes no decision on who is awarded Empty Stocking Fund help.

Families do not have to be eligible for Social Service benefits to be considered for Empty Stocking Fund help. They simply must be "in need." Factors such as job loss, illness, accident or death can cause families to have financial problems. The Empty Stocking Fund attempts to help such families at Christmas, for as long as money lasts.

Every year, despite the generous contributions of Bladen residents and those outside the county who are friends of the Fund, there is more need than money. Always, it seems, the Fund runs out of money before all families who deserve help can get it.

The Empty Stocking Fund distributes its money directly to the families it helps in the form of gift certificates purchased from local merchants. The certificates are for children only, and only merchandise for them can be purchased with the certificates.

Applications for assistance will be accepted at the Department of Social Services during its business hours from Monday, December 1, through Friday, December 12.

Contributions will be accepted during business hours at the Bladen Journal from now through Thursday, December 18. They can be hand delivered, or mailed to P. O. Box 70, Elizabethtown. Checks should be made payable to the Empty Stocking Fund.

The Bladen Journal will publish a list of donors to the Empty Stocking Fund weekly. For more information on the Fund, call the Journal office at 862-4163.

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