ELIZABETHTOWN — With two days remaining for collections, the Empty Stocking Fund has crept close to $10,000 to be shared with Bladen County children.
At the close of business Wednesday, donors had brought forward $9,075. The latest acts of benevolence came from:
• Joseph Cain, $225, in honor of the annual Cain Family Dinner.
• Leslie Johnson, $250.
• Charles and Catherine DeVane, $100.
• Lisa, Betty, Chris, Phillip, Cleo, Misty and “our entire family,” $100, in memory of Ja-Quan McKiver, George McKiver and Virgie McKiver.
• Beth Car Presbyterian Church, $500.
• Richard and Laurie Smith, $100.
• Beth Car Presbyterian Adult Sunday School Class, $100.
• Elizabethtown Rotary Club, $250.
• Optimist Club of Elizabethtown, $300.
The Empty Stocking Fund is a partnership of the Bladen Journal, Leinwands and the Bladen County Department of Social Services. All money collected is shared with children — through their parents or guardians making the application — of the less fortunate in the county.
The DSS handles all applications and makes selections for who receives vouchers from Leinwands on West Broad Street in Elizabethtown. The Bladen Journal makes the phone calls to those receiving, and passes out the vouchers.
Phone calls will be made in the middle of next week, and vouchers can be picked up on Thursday between 1 and 7 p.m., and Friday between 1 and 7 p.m.
The applications are available in English and Spanish, and can be turned in through 5 p.m. Friday. The DSS office is at 208 E. McKay St. in Elizabethtown. This is adjacent to the Bladen County Hospital, down the street that is beside the helicopter landing pad.
Donations can be made in person at the Bladen Journal, by phone using a credit card, or by mail. Checks should be made payable to the Empty Stocking Fund.
To reach the newspaper office, enter off West Broad Street between First Bank and the Johnson Law Firm — this is the same entry to the Division of Motor Vehicles office where people can apply for driver’s licenses. Drive to the back as the DMV signs direct, and the newspaper office is under the same roof in Suite D. Enter on the right side of the building, where signs say “Executive Suites” and “Bladen Journal” and the door is marked by the letter “D.”
To mail a donation to the Bladen Journal, send to Bladen Journal, c/o Empty Stocking Fund, PO Box 70, Elizabethtown, NC 28337.
To donate by phone, call one of three numbers: 910-862-4163, 910-816-1980 or 910-416-5235. The method doesn’t take away the ability of those wishing to remain anonymous when donations are published; such a request can be made after information is exchanged with Danielle, Tammy or Clarissa.