Every year during the holiday season, hundreds of kids around the U.S. are left without presents or basic necessities. The Empty Stocking Fund, a non-profit organization, works to combat this issue by ensuring children are equipped with the necessary resources for a joy-filled holiday season.

Midtown’s Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps [JROTC] program is raising money for the fund. They aim to aid the social and developmental success of economically disadvantaged children, while also supporting their needs. Though this is not the first year JROTC has raised money for this fund. That said, their focus this year is driven by a desire to give back to the community in light of recent economic uncertainty. 

“Last year we only raised approximately $200 and was the last school out of the APS district JROTC programs,” JROTC teacher, Major Veleka Douglass said. “This year we decided to focus our efforts on this event to help support our community and really get the word out to our family and friends to help out. We also wanted everyone to know they can send families here as well to get assistance for the season.”

Joy Graham, Empty Stocking’s Director of Development explained the goal and motivation of the fund.

“The Empty Stocking Fund was founded on the belief that every child deserves to experience the joy of the holiday season and have the tools they need for school,” Graham said. “Our role becomes even more critical when families are forced to make difficult choices between necessities like rent and utilities or holiday gifts and school supplies.”

While the primary goal of their fundraising is to bring joy to disadvantaged children through holiday gifts, JROTC’s initiative also aims to raise awareness about the fund’s services.

“This organization helps kids and benefits the community because, especially right now, it is important to give back to families in times with the government shutdown and layoffs,” JROTC member and sophomore Brooklyn Wolf said. “Christmas is my favorite time of year and I believe if I can make someone else’s holiday better or even just their day, it’s worth the effort of fundraising.”

For Title 1 schools with 80% of students on free or reduced lunch plans, the Empty Stocking Fund not only raises money to give children presents at holiday time, but also provides children with school supplies during the back to school season. Due to the Trump Administration’s changes to these meal plans and high unemployment rates due to the government shutdown’s lingering effects, this is a time of increased struggle for many. This makes this fund vitally important to some, according to Graham.

“By providing gifts and other items [to families in need], we help ease the financial burden on parents and caregivers,” Graham said. “The funds [Midtown’s JROTC] cadets are raising directly enable us to purchase the items that stock our shelves, ensuring that when families are struggling, our community is there to support them. Midtown’s campaign is a perfect example of neighbors helping neighbors through difficult times.”

Wolf highlights the positive impact fundraising has had on both the kids that receive money and those raising money.

“I think this organization is an amazing chance for high schoolers to get involved in acts of community service,” Wolf said. “It aims to raise money for families that are less fortunate in the Atlanta area which makes it more local, giving my classmates and I a good motivation to help the community.”

According to the Empty Stocking Funds 2023 impact report, they had 140,000 total toys and gifts given to 20,000 children valued at $1,200,000. 

“For many of the children we served, the gifts they received from The Empty Stocking Fund were the only ones they got for the holidays,” Graham said. “The impact goes beyond the gifts themselves. It’s the excitement a child feels when they have a special present to open. It’s the relief a parent feels knowing they can provide that experience for their child.”

Graham describes a moment from her work with the fund that has stuck with her, something that showed her how much their work impacted the families they work with.

“A moment that stands out is seeing another at our Santa’s Village beam with pride and relief as her children selected toys in our warehouse last month,” Graham said. “She shared that things are especially difficult this year with raisins costs, program cuts and limited income. Being able to give them those gifts, thanks to community support, was a powerful moment for her and a reminder for us of why this work matters. A contribution from [Midtown’s JROTC] isn’t just a donation; it’s the specific truck, doll, or art set that will bring a smile to a child’s face in our community this year.”