Area companies are needed for a unique Christmas in July program.
It is time to begin collecting donations to support this year’s Empty Stocking Fund (ESF). The goal is to provide Christmas toys for more than 1,200 children from ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) families making more than the federal poverty level, but less than what they need to make ends meet.
“This is the first time we’ve actually done this Christmas in July,” Brittany Burnett, President and CEO of UWCSRA, told ABD. “What makes it really unique is the fact that because of the immense buying power that we have, we basically put all of these items in an online store, and parents, then once they’re approved, they go into this online store, and they pick the gifts that they think their child would want for Christmas.”
She added that UWCSRA can purchase $100 worth of toys with every $35 contribution.
The parents or guardians check out of the online store, and the toys are packed for them to pick up. There will be designated distribution days and locations close to Christmas. Burnett said it will be a drive-thru pick up, similar to the supply distributions at The HUB for Community Innovation in the weeks after Hurricane Helene.
“We joke when we have our volunteers help with this. We tell them, ‘You get ready, because we run this place like a Chick-fil-A at lunchtime,’” chuckled Burnett. “I feel like it’s almost perfected this at this point, because we have found ways to be really efficient through the number of volunteers we’ve got, and we’re using technology and other things to ensure these families are not waiting a long time.”
Burnett said there will be a number of different distribution days, dotted across the region UWCSRA serves. Parents can choose the day and location that best fits into their schedule.
“We know most of these parents who are receiving these gifts are working, and so what we don’t want them to do is have to take off work to come and get these gifts,” Burnett said. “We ensure that a parent really is not in line for longer than 10 minutes with us. They get there, we load the gifts that they picked for their kid, and they’re going back to work.”
Businesses and organizations are invited to come on board as sponsors. There are three sponsorship levels in the ESF drive. Each sponsorship comes with a recognition of the donation:
- Santa’s Workshop Elite Sponsor
- $3,500
- IMPACT: Provides presents for 100 children. PERKS: Custom ornament, top logo placement on banner, recognition on social media & UW website.
- Rudolph’s Lead Sponsor
- $1,350
- IMPACT: Provides presents for 38 children. PERKS: Custom ornament, logo placement on banner, recognition on social media, and UWSCRA website.
- The “DASH” Sponsor
- $350
- IMPACT: Provides presents for 10 local children. PERKS: Custom ornament, recognition on UWCSRA website
Contributions can also be made anonymously at www.emptystockingfundcsra.org/.
Once the amount of available funds is tallied, UWCSRA will open the process for parents to apply.
“Imagine if one company, 10 companies, 50 people, 500 people give $35 each, and can help a neighbor in need. I’m only limited by my resources,” added Burnett. “If we raise enough money to help 6,000 kids, we will do that.”
