A longtime Odessa businessman and Salvation Army supporter on Tuesday issued a challenge to Odessa that will triple donations to the Empty Stocking Fund.
The anonymous donor has for years supported the Salvation Army and said he will match every dollar donated up to $50,000. That challenge means donations are now tripled as the Sewell Family of Companies last month also agreed to match donations dollar for dollar up to $50,000.
That means a $10 donation becomes $30! That news was welcome to Captain Stephanie Vincent of Odessa’s Salvation Army. The employees and volunteers there are busy this week sorting gifts and filling food baskets for a nice holiday meal for the needy in Odessa.
With Monday, Dec. 18, as the deadline to donate, the fund currently has $17,060. Monday is also the day gifts and food will be handed out.
The Empty Stocking Fund aids the Salvation Army by providing funds to purchase gifts for children who were not adopted through the Angel Tree program. The Fund also purchases the items for the holiday meal and provides small gifts for local needy senior citizens.
“We here at The Salvation Army are just blown away by the generous gift of matching $50,000 for our Empty Stockings,” Vincent said Tuesday. “This money raised goes to help us make sure so many families in our community have a wonderful Christmas. Every dollar helps, and now that dollar can become even more.”
The Empty Stocking Fund, an annual fundraising effort by the Odessa American and The Salvation Army is in the 29th year of helping the community. The anonymous grant and the Sewell grant will boost this year’s campaign.
Donations to the Empty Stocking Fund may be mailed or delivered to the Salvation Army Community Center, 810 E. 11th St., or the Odessa American, 700 N. Grant, Suite 800. ZIP codes for both are 79761. Call the Salvation Army at 332-0738.
The 29th year of the Empty Stocking Fund has a $100,000 goal to meet the needs in our community. The Fund helps families who are struggling to make ends meet. Many are single moms and grandmothers trying to raise family in tough economic times. Funds donated to the Empty Stocking Fund stay in Ector County and help local families. All those who are helped are vetted by the Salvation Army staff.
This is not the first year that the Sewell Family of Companies has come to the aid of the Salvation Army. A $50,000 challenge was issued in 2021 and the community stepped up and even surpassed that year’s $100,000 goal.
This year’s anonymous donor has also donated tens of thousands of dollars over the years. These gifts help Odessans in need. The Empty Stocking Fund was created by the Odessa American in 1995 and has raised more than $2.24 million.
WANT TO HELP?
Donations to the Empty Stocking Fund may be mailed or delivered to the Salvation Army Community Center, 810 E. 11th St., or the Odessa American, 700 N. Grant, Suite 800. Both zip codes are 79761.
Donate online at tinyurl.com/393573yf
Want to know more? Call 332-0738.
WHAT IS IT?
The Empty Stocking Fund was created by the Odessa American in 1995 and has raised more than $2.24 million.
Empty Stocking funds enable the Salvation Army to provide toys and food baskets to needy families in Odessa.
This year’s goal is $100,000.
