The Empty Stocking Fund (Atlanta, GA)

Today was supposed to be our last day of distribution, but we know so many of you still haven't received your gifts so we've added another day BY APPOINTMENT ONLY! You should have received an email giving you an option to choose a timeslot tomorrow. We have room for about 1,000 families to pick up orders from our warehouse and we're already about half full. Volunteers, we need your help to make this crappy year end on a high note! New spots just added. www.emptystockingfund.org/volunteers

We are still distributing gifts so we have not gotten to all of our thank you’s yet, but we feel so much affirmation and joy in the assistance and volunteering that takes place in our communities. Thank you to all who delivered Christmas at @McCleskey-East Cobb Family YMCA. *Special thanks to Gayle Battersby for making this possible at your location. Love these pictures.

Guys! Hang with us, we are doing our best. Christmas is on its way, Santa just got a little discombobulated this year with the pandemic and all.

Everyone still to receive orders: 1. Bring your ID and the EMAIL sent with barcode to the pickup location. 2. All YMCA locations are closed at this time.... 3. If you missed your pickup time you will receive another email once your order has been retransported to our warehouse in Atlanta. DO NOT COME WITHOUT YOUR EMAIL/BARCODE/ID. 4. Please allow for extra time at pickup. We deliver as we are able on first come first serve basis, so following directions above will assist us in serving you better. Traffic, and parking issues have been reported. Please take care. 5. Our EFS warehouse will be open and distributing gift packages today from 9-5 and tomorrow, December 22, from 9-5, but again DO NOT COME down without a revised letter stating your order is here with a barcode. It will get here, please be patient. 6. We do not have a Customer Service Team as a non-profit. The 3 of us are doing all we can, to check in clients, pull orders, reroute trucks, and get goods into your trunks. We are not sitting behind computers and will answer your questions as we are able. Please be patient. 7. Registration for the year is unfortunately closed. If you are somewhere in the middle of the ordering process, we will try to assist you once our distribution is complete. In other words, it’s possible we will not be able to help in time. We are doing our best. 8. We are not monitoring the replies here for questions or issues. Please DM and your message will be responded to when we are able. 9. Pickup emails are still going out. Please remain vigilant.

We're getting HUNDREDS of messages, calls, and emails and want to try to answer some questions here. 1. All order pickups must be accompanied by your email with barcode and your ID. 2. If you were unable to pickup your orders from your assigned YMCA location you will receive new email with barcode notice to pick up at the EFS Warehouse once we have transported your order from the initial location back to ours. Pick up times will be Monday, 12/21 (9-5) or Tuesday 12/22 (9-5) b...ut ONLY AFTER you have received a revised letter. ( If you get here before, WE WILL NOT HAVE YOUR ORDER READY!) 3. Traffic and waiting must be factored in to your pickup times. With numerous changes and delivery reroutes, it’s taking some extra time to service the remaining families. 4. All three of the ESF workers, with volunteers are working to get the right orders on trucks, checked in and in to your waiting cars. Please note that we DO NOT HAVE A CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. We realize you want information and we will be getting it to you as fast as we have it and are physically able to do so. *Sometimes that means late at night. 5. If you have begun the registration process but have not been able to place your order, we will do our best to help after all distributions have been completed, but please know it’s possible we will not be able to help you this year. 6 If you have not yet registered, we regret that we are unable to serve you at this point given our time and resource constraints. 7. All YMCA locations are closed for distribution as of today. 8. If you are awaiting an update, we realize you are frustrated and nervous, but if everyone can follow directions above, be patient, we will get to everyone.

This year, more than ever, our community’s children are in need. We have worked so hard to restructure our logistics to provide a safe virtual shopping experience and contactless distribution for our families, but our budgets are stretched thin. Please consider a donation of any amount to help us reach the 40,000 children we aim to provide for this holiday season. Donate right here or you can visit us at https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/esfholiday2020 or our website... at www.emptystockingfund.org . Every dollar helps us, help a child in need. #emptystockingfund #holidaygiving #donationsneeded #childreninneed #BeTheLight #givewhatyoucan #emptystocking #youhavemorethanyouthink #ThankYou #AtlantaSchools #Atlanta #VolunteersNeeded #EveryDollarCounts #TogetherWeMakeChange #bethechange #LiftUp #thanyousponsors

Big news is coming! In the meantime we'll share a piece of the story... Thanks to a new friend, we're expanding our distribution area to include Cherokee, Coweta, Forsyth, Newton and Paulding Counties. So now, children from 14 metro area counties can receive gifts! Registration must be received by Nov. 15th for local distribution. www.emptystockingfund.org/holidays

It's Election Day! Vote and make your voice heard!

We hope you have a safe and Happy Halloween!

Metro Atlanta children from birth through 12 years of age who receive public assistance are eligible to receive gifts from The Empty Stocking Fund. This year, in an effort to keep you and your children safe and healthy, you will be able to shop online for your holiday gifts. Register now at emptystockingfund.org/holidays

Early voting begins today in Georgia! Find your voting place here: https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do

As of today, $180.00 towards our $500,000.00 goal. Thank you donors. Please share with others that may like to support Empty Stocking, a 501c3 that has been providing relief to children since 1927. https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/esfholiday2020? www.emptystockingfund.org

We are so grateful to be able to help Resurgence Hall Charter Schools and the State Charter Schools Foundation of Georgia. We look forward to more collaboration in the future. Have a great school year!

This year has been busier than ever as we continue to adjust our entire program to accommodate the current environment. The need of our community has only grown during this time, even as we see funding depleted by the changes necessary to create a safe gift giving holiday season. Thanks to our sponsors, who made it possible. But we still need your help. Please consider donating to The Empty Stocking Fund. We are grateful for any amount you can give and so are our kids. Thank you, The Empty Stocking Fund Team

Parents and guardians, our registration is open for Holiday 2020 gift distribution. Please visit us at https://www.emptystockingfund.org/2020-holiday-gift-regist/ #holiday2020 #charity #Registration #SantasVillage #pleasedonate

Online registration for our 2020 Holiday Gift Distribution is now open! This year you will be able to shop online, hopefully by mid-October. Gift pick-up details are still 'to be determined' but will be finalized by Thanksgiving. We're so excited to give your family a little holiday joy, this year especially! https://www.emptystockingfund.org/2020-holiday-gift-regist/

We need an architect to help us design office space for our new warehouse, hopefully pro-bono. Please PM us with suggestions / contacts who may be willing to help!

Today is National Voter Registration Day! Are you registered? If not, here's some links that may help: https://nationalvoterregistrationday.org/ https://georgia.gov/register-to-vote (informacion en espanol) https://www.mvp.sos.ga.gov/MVP/mvp.do

The Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) is receiving funds to provide scholarships to school age children participating in distance learning and who need child care while their parents work. These scholarships will help pay for care, supervision, and support during the school day. The program, called Supporting Onsite Learning for Virtual Education (SOLVE), provides additional child care options for students whose school systems have opted for a virtual learning model.

CALLING ALL VOLUNTEERS! The first day of school is almost here and we are packing school supply kits and backpacks for metro Atlanta Students! Please HELP us build school supply kits and pack backpacks for local students in our community.... See below for volunteer dates/times and more information. https://www.emptystockingfund.org/school-supply-distributi/