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Source: Odessa American, TexasDec.迷你倉 14--Despite a roaring economy there is a still a great need for some struggling Odessa families this Christmas season.If more funds aren't donated to the Empty Stocking Fund this year some of those families could go without a good holiday meal and small gifts for the children as the program remains almost $130,000 away from the $150,000 goal needed to provide for more than 300 families.This is the 19th year the Odessa American has partnered with the Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program for the Empty Stocking Fund and with less than a week until the 2013 drive ends, the Empty Stocking Fund has raised $22,011.Lt. Monica Contreras with the Salvation Army said she knows that there is tremendous prosperity within the community coupled with tremendous need and programs like the Angel Tree and Empty Stocking Fun help to supplement those needs and get people in the community back on their feet.Contreras is a self-proclaimed product of the Angel Tree program."I was young and with a child," Monica explained. "My husband's family had been officers (with the Salvation Army) for 46 years and they helped us out. It opened up my eyes--people really did care and I wanted to be a part of that."She said since then she and her husband have been completely immersed in the Salvation Army and its dedication to help those in need."We had a family come in just the other day--the father was out of a home," Contreras said. "He was a single father with two kids and didn't have butane, out of heat, no food, nothing. We were able to sign them up for Christmas program. We had a client that didn't have electricity and wasn't able to cook fo儲存倉d. These programs come in and help those people."This year a $1,000 donation came from a business owner who chose to keep his name anonymous because "the Bible teaches that the left hand should not know what the right hand is doing" so that the act of giving will be recognized and not the person doing it.The donor said he feels that the Contreras', Joe and Monica, are doing an amazing job."There is a need right now," he said. "The area is enjoying great times economically as a while, but there are people ha fall through the whole so to speak. People need a hand up and not a hand."The donor said he felt that the programs the Salvation Army endorse work to that end.Contreras is worried about where the funds stand today but she hopes that this year's Empty Stocking Fund campaign will end on a strong not like the one in 2012."I know we were down quite a bit last year at this point but I don't know if it was this low," Contreras said continuing that the largest donation, $50,000, came in the last week of the 2012 campaign.She wanted people to know that every bit counts and they appreciate any donation that people feel compelled to give."Many people say they wish they could do more," Contreras said. "Everyone's different--some people have $5, some people have thousands of dollars and everyone's contribution can make a difference; like I said--whether it's a penny or a fountain of pennies."Contact Chris Bartlett at 432-333-7782, email at cbartlett@oaoa.com, or on Twitter at @OAChrisBartlettCopyright: ___ (c)2013 the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) Visit the Odessa American (Odessa, Texas) at .oaoa.com Distributed by MCT Information Services迷你倉最平