Empty Stocking Fund: Helping Our Neighbors This Holiday Season
Table of Contents
Dec. 9, 2025, 4:01 a.m. ET
As the holidays get closer and the cost of living keeps going up,many families in our area are facing tough times. They’re worried about things like housing, utilities, car repairs, and medical bills. The Empty Stocking Fund is here to help.
Managed by the Athens Area Community Foundation, along with the Athens banner-Herald and local nonprofits, the empty Stocking Fund provides financial help to people in our community.
Why Your Support Matters
Thanks to generous donations and teamwork with local organizations, the Empty Stocking Fund helps families stay in their homes, keep their lights on, and handle unexpected financial problems.
How the Fund Works
- Connection with Local Agencies: People who need help will be referred by a trusted nonprofit organization in our community.
- Referrals to the Fund: The organization will figure out the need and send a request to the Athens area Community Foundation.
- Grants to Local Agencies: The Athens Area Community foundation will send the money directly to the organization that made the request. That organization will then pay the bills for the person in need.
What the Data Tell Us
The latest survey from the Athens Wellbeing Project shows why the Empty Stocking Fund is so important right now.