The Empty Stocking Fund

The Empty Stocking Fund is a charitable organization that delivers toys and food to the less fortunate during the holiday season. Jim "Muggins" Bennett started the fund in December of 1980 after getting laid off from the coal mines. Without a job, he had more time on his hands, he decided to use it to help those less fortunate.

The fund plans on distributing 3,000 gifts and 600 100 pound food baskets just before Christmas. The cost of this is estimated at $35,000 to $45,000 per year. To offest these costs they take donations and hold fundraisers including the annual Empty Stocking Fund Auction which airs on the Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College television station.

This year it was held over a 3 day period. I volunteered (and bought a lot of homemade candy) each of those days. The first night I spent delivering items that people bid on and won. The second night I answered the phones, delivered bids to the auctioneers, and was the butt of a lot of jokes (thanks Paul). :P The last night I spent photographing the auction and spending lots of money bidding on candy and a knit hat (which you may see on some of my upcoming senior clients!). Jessica Edwards Photography donated 2 items. One was a studio session and a portrait purse valued at $205. The other was a studio session and a portrait heirloom necklace or bracelet, also valued at $205. To those who bid on these items (and all items) thank you!!!

The fund is accepting applications to receive toys and food baskets this week at the Access Cable office (in the Springfield section of Cumberland) 9:00am to noon and from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm.

As you can see, Muggins was a busy man...

Making sure the auction items got where they were supposed to go...

Answering the phones...

Making sure everyone had a drink (whether you wanted one or not!) :)

Giving an interivew to Brandon Goins of the Harlan Daily Enterprise

And doing what he does best...making everyone laugh


His wife is also very dedicated in making the fund a success. She helped keep track of money and the auction items. Norma tested out all of the homemade candy (and must have been saving some for later). :P


The phones rarely stopped ringing


There were many donations of handcrafted items like this cinnamon scented broom


Phyllis Branham is famous around here for her baked goods. It's rare for one of her cakes to go for less than $60. She helped raise hundred of dollars with her donations...like this carrot cake.



This hand knit hat was one of the items that I bid on and won

So I thought I'd test out how it looks in portraits on myself


This picture was the last one that I took because his ugly mug broke my camera. :(

(Just teasing, Paul)