VALDOSTA — At a time when the Empty Stocking Fund helped nearly twice as many children as the previous year, the annual Christmas fund-raiser saw a sharp decrease in donations in 2009.
With a tally Tuesday of $18,267.50 for the 2009 Christmas season, the Empty Stocking Fund raised $5,366 less than last year, said Margie Blanton of Guardian Bank, which oversees the account.
“The economy really blew us out of the water this year,” Blanton said.
Donations were down as were the number of donors. In 2008, 227 donors raised more than $23,000 for the Empty Stocking Fund. This past Christmas, the fund attracted only 85 donors.
A few more donations may trickle into the fund during the next few days, Blanton said.
The economy also affected how many children needed the Empty Stocking Fund’s help. Approximately 1,800 area children benefited from the fund this past holiday season. That’s up nearly 800 children from 2008’s approximate number of 1,000 youngsters.
It was 2008’s $23,000-plus in donations that funded the Christmas toys for 2009’s increase in children.
It will be 2009’s lower amount that will pay for next Christmas’ toys.
For generations of Valdosta-Lowndes County residents, it has been the goal of the Empty Stocking Fund to ensure no local child awakes Christmas morning to an empty stocking or no toys under the tree.
The Valdosta Daily Times and the local Salvation Army have sponsored the Empty Stocking Fund for decades. Guardian Bank joined the fund several years ago.
Local News
Stocking fund a little emptier this season
- Local News
-
-
Berrien clinic director loses job
Speaking to The Valdosta Daily Times about the possible discontinuation of the Berrien Elementary School MED Clinic led to the program’s executive director losing her job Monday morning.
-
From the CIA to man about town
Meet Jack Pruden, former member of the Central Intelligence Agency.
-
Berrien school medical facility faces an uncertain future
A state-of-the-art medical facility that was introduced in Berrien County public schools in 2010 might be ending soon.
-
New TV listings section debuts in print edition
In Sunday editions of The Valdosta Daily Times, keep an eye out for the updated TV listings section.
-
Man shot in Valdosta; police car, ambulance collide
Response to a shooting Saturday afternoon led to a collision between a police vehicle and an ambulance.
-
Annual Father-Daughter Dance enters 16th year
Three-week-old Emmaline Taylor lay contentedly on dad Trey Taylor’s shoulder Friday night, completely oblivious to the sights and sounds of the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance.
Now in its 16th year, the popular annual event is sponsored by Valdosta’s First Presbyterian Church and held at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center.
“We’ve been looking forward to this,” Trey Taylor said. “When we first got pregnant, (my wife Sheya and I) looked to see if she would be here in time for the Father-Daughter Dance.” -
VPD offers online citation payment
The Valdosta Police Department has implemented a new online service to assist traffic violators.
-
School system grades policy gets national exposure
Local radio personality Scott James of Talk 92.1 will be appearing on “Fox & Friends” today at 7:45 a.m. to share feedback about the new grading policy implemented by the Lowndes County School System.
-
Don Giovanni: VSU presents Mozart’s most famous opera
VALDOSTA — Editing Mozart isn’t for sissies.
It takes a certain knowledge, talent and sheer chutzpah to perform surgery on Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Alas, in our age of short-attention spans, it is a challenge which many opera productions must consider, given that many of Mozart’s originals stretched as long as four hours. -
Traffic Unit coming to Hahira
HAHIRA — The Hahira City Council voted to allow the addition of a Traffic Enforcement Unit to the Hahira Police Department at Thursday night’s regular session council meeting.
The Traffic Enforcement Unit will patrol two miles of Interstate 75 and according to Hahira Police Chief Terry Davis, has nothing to do with making money and everything to do with the safety of Hahira’s citizens. - More Local News Headlines
-
Former Komen Exec Defends Funding Cut
Skip the Coffee Cup and Inhale Your Caffeine Fix
Calif. Gay Marriage Ban Ruled Unconstitutional
Jury Selection for Ex-UVa Athlete Enters 2nd Day
Raw Video: Giants Celebrate Another Super Bowl
Cab Driver Helps Wis. Family Escape House Fire
Greek Leaders Seek Deal As Bankruptcy Looms
Bernanke: Recovery Depends on Consumer Spending
Staff Removed at LA School During Abuse Probe
Eastwood in Super Bowl Ad 'Compassionate'
Stranded Fishermen Rescued From Bay of Green Bay
Analyst: Outside Troops Won't Intervene in Syria
Police: Father Planned Deadly Fire for Some Time
US, UK Pressure on Syria; More Homs Violence
Raw Video: Mass Killer Wants Medal, Freedom
Court Strips Contador of Tour De France Title
Runaway Goat Leads Police on Wild Chase
And the Winner for Best Super Bowl Ad Is...
Romney Latest Poll to Join Let-me-explain Club
