This year’s Empty Stocking campaign is coming to a close, with the coffers just shy of $90,000 and donations still trickling in.
That’s a huge increase over 2012, when the total didn’t quite reach $66,000.
The generous donations will go toward helping others stay afloat during financially difficult times, but they will also stay with the givers, in a way.
“It’s something that we’ve done for 10 years,” said Tony Phillips, with the AMRAAM Performance Team on Eglin Air Force Base. “We never really discuss it. We put a can out on the table, and it fills up with money.
“It’s local,” he said. “It gives us an opportunity to give a little bit back to a wonderful community.”
Marianne Haberbusch made her donation in honor of her colleagues at Bayou Book Co. in Niceville.
“I’ve donated to the Empty Stocking Fund for many years, usually anonymously,” said Haberbusch, who agreed to talk because it would be good for the fund drive.
“I have a group of 11, including the boss, of co-workers,” she said. “It’s a wonderful place to work. We’ve all been there a long time, and we’re all growing older together.”
The Empty Stocking Fund, inaugurated by retired Northwest Florida Daily News employee Dorothy Mullin, did indeed fill up this year.
With a goal of $75,000, the community exceeded expectations, and Salvation Army Lt. Chris Welch looked truly relieved for the first time since Thanksgiving. His smile was one of gratitude.
“The majority of the budget for our financial services throughout the year is Empty Stocking Fund,” said Welch. who with his wife, Lt. Jessica Welch, serve as corps office directors for the Salvation Army of Okaloosa and Walton counties.
“Without Empty Stocking Fund, we wouldn’t be able to do as much as we do,” he continued. “We’d have to say no to so many people.”
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Empty Stocking not so empty this year
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