ELIZABETHTOWN —The Bladen Journal’s annual Empty Stocking Fund took another step toward its goal of $12,000 with one gift this week.

That gift came from the Bethlehem United Methodist Women in White Oak, who sent $100 to the effort and raised the current total to $1,330.

The Bladen Journal partners with the Bladen County Department of Social Services and the Elizabethtown-White Lake Area Chamber of Commerce in an effort to collect money from throughout the community to assist children in having a bright Christmas. Gift cards to Walmart and/or Leinwand’s are handed out on a specific day prior to Christmas at the Bladen Journal office.

The Bladen Journal is hoping to assist more than 200 children this year.

But there is a twist.

Should this season’s effort surpass the $12,000 goal — by at least $3,000 — the Bladen Journal’s W. Curt Vincent will spend Christmas weekend camped out on the roof of the Bladen Journal office.

“We’ve got a long way to go, but something tells me we can reach the $12,000 goal,” Vincent said. “I’m not sure about the $15,000 total, but I’m prepared if we do.”

To contribute to this year’s Empty Stocking Fund, donations can be dropped off at the Bladen Journal office in downtown Elizabethtown or mailed to: Empty Stocking Fund, c/o Bladen Journal, P.O. Box 70, Elizabethtown, N.C. 28358. The donations will be accepted through Wednesday, Dec. 9.

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Staff report