The Empty Stocking Fund of the CSRA is urging community members to donate this holiday season as more local families face financial hardship.
The organization, which has provided holiday gifts to children for more than 90 years, said the demand for assistance is expected to be higher than ever, according to a press release from the United Way of the CSRA.
Many families are still recovering from the recent government shutdown while also navigating rising living costs and ongoing financial strain.
The program offers a model that sets it apart from other holiday gift efforts in the region. Parents can select gifts for their children through an online e-store, then pick them up at one of two locations: the Boys & Girls Club Headquarters at Hub East or Augusta Technical College in Waynesboro.
According to the organization, a $35 donation provides nearly $100 worth of gifts for one child, according to a press release from the United Way of the CSRA.
Donations can be made online at emptystockingfundcsra.org. Contributions will appear as “Community Foundation for the CSRA” on bank statements.
Gifts may also be mailed to the Empty Stocking Fund at PO Box 31358, Augusta, GA 30903, according to a press release from the United Way of the CSRA.
Founded in 1933, the Empty Stocking Fund serves families across the CSRA and works throughout the year to ensure no child goes without holiday gifts.
