An ailing widow and her disabled son would like to share a happier holiday with her grandchildren.

"I would love to be able to buy my 10 grandchildren a gift for Christmas," she writes. "They haven't had a present from me since 2005 when my husband passed away. What a surprise for them. We don't have a tree. We put lights on an old plastic plant. Thank you for anything you can do."

The Augusta Chronicle Empty Stocking Fund has helped people such as this for 79 years.

Last year, the charity raised a record-breaking $124,000 that helped children and families across the region.