Empty Stocking fills up

What wonderful, generous people we have living in the CSRA. After contributing so much to help out victims of the deadly East Asia tsunami; hurricanes Katrina and Selma; terrible earthquakes; and other global disasters, there were concerns that our readers, like many Americans, would be hung over with charity fatigue - and that The Augusta Chronicle's annual Empty Stocking Fund might not raise as much money as usual.

We couldn't have been more wrong. Even before Christmas Day, the Empty Stocking was stuffed more than ever before in its 75-year history - $113,364.31. That is remarkably generous.

Contributors turned what would have been a gloomy, sad Christmas into a bright, merry Christmas for more than 1,000 families - local families that were either stricken with tragedy of one kind or another, or were simply down on their luck.

These needy folks and their children now have clothes or toys or other Yuletide items that they otherwise would have gone without. Some used the money to pay bills or keep a roof over their heads. And that is all thanks to you.

It is not too late to contribute either. Until mid-January, donations can be sent to Empty Stocking Fund, Box 1928, Augusta, GA 30903-1928; online donations to www.augustachronicle.com/emptystocking.