Community fills Empty Stocking

Generous donors helped the Northern Colorado Empty Stocking Fund raise more money during the 2008 holiday fund drive than last year, the first year of the program.

Donations from the community totaled $77,300 in 2008, compared with $64,400 in 2007.

In addition, the fund received matching gifts of $16,097 each from El Pomar Foundation, sponsor of the fund drive, and the Tointon Family Foundation. El Pomar also kicked off the drive with a $100,000 gift because of the economic downturn and its effect on struggling families. That brought the total for the recent drive to $209,538.

Beneficiaries of the 2008 Empty Stocking Fund are Catholic Charities Northern, Connections for Independent Living, Crossroads Ministry of Estes Park, Food Bank for Larimer County, Greeley Transitional House, House of Neighborly Service and Weld Food Bank.