Our View - Thursday

A time to give

Area residents help fill Empty Stocking

Although you might not realize it, what with Christmas displays at the stores and the commercials on TV for the past few weeks, Thanksgiving has traditionally marked the beginning of the holiday shopping season. Not coincidentally, it’s also the kickoff of the 24th annual Gazette-El Pomar Foundation Empty Stocking Fund campaign to ensure families in crisis have a little more hope for a better life in this joyous season. Through the amazing generosity of individuals, civic groups and philanthropic organizations, since its inception, the Empty Stocking Fund has collected and disbursed more than $7 million to nonprofit organizations serving families in the Pikes Peak region.

This is possible through a partnership formed 10 years ago between El Pomar Foundation and Gazette Charities and another formed eight years ago between the Bruni Foundation and Gazette Charities. For every $100,000 raised in the community, Gazette Charities contributes $10,000 to the effort and The Bruni Foundation contributes $12,000. El Pomar Foundation then matches these combined contributions at $1 for every $3 raised. Every dollar a donor gives increases up to 63 percent to ensure the biggest impact possible. With The Gazette and El Pomar Foundation sharing all administrative expenses of the campaign, every dollar from the campaign goes toward helping those in need.

The Empty Stocking Fund’ s 2007-2008 partner agencies are American Red Cross, Pikes Peak Chapter; Care & Share Food Bank; Ecumenical Social Ministries; Griffith Centers for Children, Chins Up Youth and Family Services; Marian House, Catholic Charities; Northern Churches Care; Peak Vista Community Health Centers; Pikes Peak Community Action Agency; The Salvation Army; Silver Key Senior Services; Southeast Family Center Armed Services YMCA; Tri-Lakes Cares; Urban Peak; and Westside CARES.

This year, the Empty Stocking Fund has two new initiatives: 1) to better engage the community on the north end of town (i.e. Briargate, Monument, etc.), and 2) to strengthen relationships with local universities and colleges to help foster the next generation of philanthropists.

The fund is seeking to meet these initiatives through new community partnerships. On the north side of town, Gloss Denim Bar at The Promenade Shops at Briargate is holding two fundraisers to benefit Empty Stocking Fund.

Student organizations at Colorado College and the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs are also planning numerous fundraising events to benefit the Empty Stocking Fund, including a 5k run/walk, and a benefit music concert and vintage fashion show.

Through community support, the Empty Stocking Fund touches many lives in many ways. Partnering agencies help individuals and families cope with short-term emergencies and long-term challenges by providing transitional housing, supplemental food, assistance with prescription drug costs and help with child care.

Partnering agencies are receiving more requests for assistance than ever before. And let’s not forget the strains long overseas deployments have on military families. The Southeast Family Armed Services YMCA continues to offer families of deployed military crisis prevention and stress reduction assistance.

The goal for the 2007-08 campaign is $1 million, an amount that will turn hope into reality for thousands in our community. Throughout the months of November and December, look out for numerous fundraising events to benefit the Empty Stocking Fund, all planned and organized by community partners. When you attend the Festival of Lights on Dec. 1, you’ll see Santa’s elves collecting donations before the parade.

Credit card and stock donations can be made by phoning 719-476-1673. Checks can be made out to “Empty Stocking Fund, ” and sent to P.O. Box 400, Colorado Springs, CO 80901. Or make a secure donation online at www. gazette.com under the “about us” menu or www.ColoradoSprings.com.

Private property a lot to be thankful for

Today, most Americans will gather for a celebration that has become an American tradition that is worthy of continuing. Most of us experience more blessings than tribulation, especially in this country, and it is appropriate to give thanks for them, whether to God or to whatever entity seems appropriate.

Americans today typically gather considerable portions of their families together, eat turkey with all the trimmings, then settle back to watch football or catch up on family news, and fall blissfully asleep. Most spend at least a few moments thinking about the people and events for which they have reason to be thankful.

According to Gov. William Bradford’s account of the first months in the New World, “all profits and benefits that are got by trade, working, fishing, or any other means” were placed in a common stock, from which each member of the colony could draw whatever he or she required. Not surprisingly, some colonists preferred to be layabouts.

After the scant harvest of 1622, wrote Bradford, “they began to think how they might raise as much corn as they could,” to obtain a better crop. The remedy was to give each household a parcel of land and the freedom to raise as much as they wanted, keep what they needed, and trade it away as they saw fit.

Once that system was established, “any want or famine hath not been amongst them since this day.”

We wish you and yours a cheerful and prosperous Thanksgiving.