The Exchange Club of Effingham is beginning the annual Empty Stocking Fund drive. This effort goes into a community fund to fill the needs of local families, children, elderly and disabled at Christmas in the county.

“This is an important effort for our county, our needs this year will probably be higher than we have had in the past,” said Reggie Loper, chairman of the drive. “This makes it doubly important for everyone to try to contribute something to the effort. None of us like to think about the picture of these families, children and older citizens facing Christmas without some glimmer of hope.”

The club members will be calling on local business and individuals who have supported this effort in the past, with the hope that those who can will dig down a little deeper to assure that others can have a happy time at Christmas.
To make it easier for citizens to make their contributions, arrangements have been made at the any of the Citizens Banks to receive contributions directly from the public. Contributions may also be mailed to The Empty Stocking Fund, P.O. Box 379, Springfield, GA 31329.

Funds received for the Empty Stocking Fund are put at the disposal of the Effingham Family and Children Services, who acts as the qualifying agent and disburses funds in the form of letters of credit to local businesses for redemption. Person wishing to request funds should call the Effingham Family and Children Services at 754-6471 for information.

The Exchange Club raises the question: Can it really be Christmas, if we don't care about helping those all around us here in Effingham that need our help at Christmas?