By Arai Sheraly
Over the century, the Empty Stocking Club has been serving communities in need with brand new gifts on Christmas. Covid-19 does not slow the charity down as it works to meet every child’s basic needs.
“We have 10 thousand 3 hundred kids and about 35 hundred families. We’re off not as significantly as we imagined, but I think we have reached the peak of the families in need”, says Lynn Wood, Executive Director of the club.
The gifts are selected based on the age and interest of each child and will be delivered to struggling families to rejoice of Christmas gifts. This would not have been possible without the volunteers’ help.
“This whole year has been strange, and there are so many people who need help and feel a little extra special”, says Brian Johnson, Empty Stocking Club volunteer.
This year children will receive a book along with a toy. Madison Reading Project is partnering with the Empty Stocking Club and donating thousands of books to families.
“We moved over 12 thousand books into the Alliant Energy Center yesterday. There are volunteers are going through and picking all the books and toys for kids, and those will be distributed in the communities this week”, says Deirdre Steinmetz, Madison Reading Project Coordinator.
Let’s hope that new gifts and interesting books will warm family houses and spread holiday cheer. Merry Christmas!