Southeast Kentucky Empty Stocking Fund announces final list of 2023 donors

The 2023 Southeast Kentucky Empty Stocking Fund (SEKESF) served over 600 children with its Dec. 16 Christmas party, which is about 175 more children than last year.

The Corbin Rotary Club recently announced its final round of donations for the 2023 Empty Stocking Fund Christmas program, which brought in a total of $35,231.34 in cash donations in addition to several in-kind donations.

Empty Stocking Fund President Joe Caldwell said that purchases this year were almost equal to donations, which was very much appreciated.

“The special donation from Walmart, the toys collected from the Keavy community at their new Dollar General, the Scentsy Buddys from Valerie Collett Giles, the pizzas from Little Caesars, (use of) the gym for two days in Immanuel Baptist Church, meant successfully staying within our budget of $39,000,” Caldwell said.

“On behalf of the nearly 200 families of some 630 or more children from all three counties, and all communities within them, I want to  personally express my thanks to all contributors involved this year. It seems like we lose a few each year but we also receive donations from some new friends. Many of our strongest supporters seem to give the exact dollars as they have done for years, however, a few up their contribution. We will try and help those less fortunate than us again in 2024 which will be our 37th year.”

Caldwell added another thank you to the volunteers, who helped with wrapping and working to see the children get their gifts and bicycles.

“To those who provided services and in-kind items the same great big thanks,” Caldwell concluded.

Previous unpublished donors and the amounts given include:

• Baptist Health Corbin – $4,500.
• Cumberland Valley National Bank – $300.
• Good Hope Missionary Baptist Church – $200.
• Danny Barnett – $50.
• Tim Barnes – $50.
• Bill Crook – $100.
• West Corbin Christian Church – $100.
• David and Goldie Barton – $250.
• Archie and Karen Marr – $250.
• Ossoli Foundation (Corbin) – $1,000.
• Whitaker Bank – $500.
• Corbin Chiropractic – $250.
• Cumberland Valley Electric – $50.
• Bill Hacker as per J. Bill Sosh – $100.
• Hometown Bank – $500.
• Forcht Bank – $500.
• Grace Health – $3,000.
• Rebecca Daniel – $100.
• Michael S. Noble – $250.

Previously listed donors include:

• Rhoda Woods – $100.
• Corbin Flower Shop – $100.
• June Martin and Laura Clifton – $250.
• George G. Shackleford – $100.
• Ronald Timperio – $50.
• Harold Huddleston – $100.
• Owens – $100.
• William K. Champlin – $250.
• Greg and Suzie Razmus – $250.
• American Freight Service – $1,000.
• Pratts Landscaping LLC – $4,000.
• Jack T. Cloyd, CPA – $500.
• State Farm Agencies of Corbin – $533.34.
• Insurance Service Center – $1,000.
• Don and Judy Estep – $100.
• Tipton & Tipton Law – $200.
• David and Brenda Birch – $500.
• Susan Levine Living Trust – $200.
• Rebecca Myers – $250.
• Community Trust Bank – $1,000.
• Tri-County Storage – $500.
• Michael and Debra Haggard – $100.
• Frances Chadwell – $50.
• Jerry R. Chadwell – $50.
• Tri-County Liquor of Corbin – $100.
• John and Donna Woods – $100.
• The Forest Corp. (Memory of Dennis Lynch) – $200.
• Jen and Tom Shelton – $100.
• MC Griffith – $100.
• Marr & Miller Accountants – $100.
• Linda Norwell – $100.
• Joan Black – $500.
• Mitchell Tax & Accounting – $100.
• Steve Surmont – $100.
• Pennington Wellness – $100.
• Forcht Bank – $250.
• Hampton Inn (Corbin) – $250.
• Wallen’s Towing – $250.
• Daylen Wallen – $100.
• Marion Ed McNeel – $150.
• Joan Barton – $100.
• Brenda Carpenter Jones – $100.
• Davis Salvage Company – $500.
• Patil Foundation Inc. – $1,000.
• Walmart Store Number 1259, Corbin – $4,000.
• Rotary Foundation District 6740 – $1,500.
• Rotary Club of Corbin, Ky. – $750.
• Sudhir and Shobhana Patel – $252.
• Pam Razmus – $100.
• Paul Jones (in memory of Shirley Jones) – $100.
• Joe and Lola Caldwell (in memory of Shirley Jones) – $100.
• Two Great Friends of SEKESF – $500.
• Jerry and Helen Rickett – $200.
• Tim Bryant – $56.
• Mildred Burkhart – $100.