For more than 100 years, the Empty Stocking Fund has been providing toys and holiday items for families in Southeast Texas. But impacts from the coronavirus to the 2020 season has made the need for community assistance more urgent than previous years.
“We had to go back to last year’s clients because of COVID-19,” said Christmas Bureau President Diann Dennis. “We couldn’t do personal interviews because of the virus.”
Another hit to the annual fundraiser has been the collection of gifts. To protect the volunteers and families in need, the usual shopping trip to purchase items wasn’t possible. Instead, families will be receiving a Walmart gift card.
In 2019, the Empty Stocking Fund supplied toys to 375 children in Jefferson County.
Items are purchased using money donated from businesses and individuals the year prior. However, economic hardships suffered by several local businesses has prevented the number of donations normally received by this time.
“We have a lot of people that don’t have jobs, people who have been evicted from their homes,” said Dennis. “A lot of our clients have moved out of the area because of the virus of hurricanes.”
While the organization is not accepting additional clients for this season, the Christmas Bureau will continue working to help those in need, and raising money to do the same in 2021.
“I just want to thank the volunteers that have worked, and ask members within the community to be safe out there,” said Dennis.
Florence Stratton, a former society editor, created The Beaumont Journal Milk and Ice Fund in 1914 to provide services for the poor in the hot summer months. It was moved to the holiday season in 1920. When the Beaumont Journal and the Enterprise newspapers merged in 1983, the name was changed.
Donations of all amounts are appreciated and can be made in memory of loved ones. The lists of donations will run every weekday in The Enterprise until Christmas Day.
The Beaumont Enterprise office currently is closed due to the coronavirus. However, the tax-deductible donations can be mailed to the Empty Stocking Fund, P.O. Box 3071, Beaumont, TX 77704.
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December 02, 2020 at 03:52AM
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Virus makes need more urgent for Empty Stocking Fund - Beaumont Enterprise
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