Empty Pantry Fund packing, delivery early this year
By Linda Braden Albert | (lindaba@thedailytimes.com)
As the 2012 Empty Pantry Fund campaign reaches the halfway mark, members of the board of directors are looking ahead to fast-approaching packing and delivery dates.
This year, packing will be held Dec. 13 at the Tennessee Army National Guard Armory and delivery of the food baskets will take place Dec. 16, several days earlier than in past years.
Traditionally, the deliveries of Empty Pantry Fund food baskets and toys provided through a separate campaign, Toys for Blount County, are made the Sunday before Christmas, but with the jolly holiday falling on Tuesday this year, the board foresaw several problems with delivery on Dec. 23.
Board President Lon Fox said, “That means that anybody we missed, we’d have to get (food and toys) to them on the 24th. One thing people don’t realize is, when people get a food basket, that frees up money they can spend on Christmas presents. You’re really helping them buy gifts, too.”
Treasure Tony Clark added, “We didn’t want to push people and families, thinking about Christmas presents. A lot of people need to have it there, and have it under the tree, on Christmas Eve.”
Clark pointed out that the earlier delivery date presents a problem for EPF, however. “We’re going to lose a week of fundraising,” he said.
EPF will distribute almost 100 pounds of food to 1,400 families, including staple food products and bags of potatoes and fruit. This is enough to feed a family of four for more than a week.
A Facebook page has been set up to keep the community informed on the progress of the campaign. Visit The Empty Pantry Fund.
Donations
Donations to date are slightly behind those at the same time in 2011, when the total collected was $43,295. In 2010, $52,340 had been donated as of Dec. 1.
Donations to date include:
BALANCE FORWARD, $37,713.63
Brenda Sellers, $100
In memory of our loved ones, Jake and Iva Wilde, $100
In honor of our grandchildren from Max and Mary Whitehead, $25
Ronald and Pamela Pyron, $100
In memory of Frances Myers, $100
Peggy Tollison, $50
In memory of Estella Skendrovic, $100
Clover Hill Presbyterian Church Quilters, $100
Anonymous, $100
Diana and James Wagner, $50
Robert and Mary Helton, $200
Linda Holder, $200
In memory of Justin Hirche, $100
Robert and Julie Niles, $100
In loving memory of James Charles Sr. and Jama Charles Dyer, $50
In memory of Joe Rorex, $100
Ralph and Ann Burns, $50
In memory of Andy Chandler by Janie Chandler, $50
In memory of Glenn Garner, $100
Sylvia Caldwell, $250
In memory of Robert and Haleen Davis and Kirk McDaniel by Gary and Robin Payne, $50
Anonymous, $500
In honor of our grandchildren — Kelsey Christopher, Charles Hill 3rd, Kaitlyn Hill and Jazlyn Brown by Bob and Gladys Bean, $100
David and Teresa Morton, $100
Dr. Ted Flickinger, $200
In honor of Paul Bales by Glenda Turner, $25
William Phillips, $500
TOTAL — THANK YOU, $41,213.63
