Help make 600 wishes come true
By From staff reports
Published in News on November 18, 2012 1:50 AM
The Goldsboro News-Argus is asking for the community's assistance in helping mark a century of providing Christmas for thousands of needy children in Goldsboro and Wayne County.
Donations for this year's Empty Stocking Fund are now being accepted. All of the money collected goes for the children. All of the work is done by volunteers.
This will be the fund's centennial year of making children's Christmas wishes come true -- thanks to the generosity of generations of loyal donors and volunteers.
The party, which provides gifts and a fun event for the children, will be held Saturday, Dec. 8, at 9 a.m. at Goldsboro High School.
The project is jointly sponsored by the Goldsboro Woman's Club, The Continental Society and The News-Argus.
The annual fundraising campaign was organized in 1912 by the Goldsboro Woman's Club whose members were afraid that some community children would not receive anything for Christmas.
Those concerns were taken to Col. Joe Robinson, founder and editor of the Daily Argus. It was decided that the newspaper would raise the money and the Woman's Club would see to it that the "stockings" of needy children would be filled at Christmastime.
Invitations to the party are mailed out, and children are selected based on need.
The fundraising efforts will include a performance by the Embers, the Southeast's premier "beach music band."
The group will perform an "I Love Christmas Music" concert Monday, Dec. 17 at 7:30 p.m. at the Paramount Theatre. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. VIP seats, which include hors d'oeuvers with the Embers, are $35 each.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Empty Stocking Fund
Tickets may be purchased by calling 919-739-7810.
Wayne County Public Schools teachers recommend students for the party -- and the families are sent applications from which 600 names are chosen. Each child receives a toy of their choice, clothing and a stocking filled with fruits, nuts and candy.
The items are distributed at the annual party.
Donation should be mailed to: Empty Stocking Fund, c/o The News-Argus, P.O. Box 10629, Goldsboro, NC 27532 or may be dropped of at The News-Argus, 310 North Berkeley Blvd.
Checks should be made payable to the Empty Stocking Fund and, if a person wishes to make the contribution in honor or in memory of a loved one, it should be noted on the check's memo line.
The News-Argus will once again run the dedications throughout the holiday season beginning next Sunday.