More than $3,000 donated to empty stocking fund

Frank Romero grew up with seven siblings. His dad worked for area feedlots, and later for the railroad, but money was always tight.

There was seldom extra for Christmas.

That’s why Romero has such fond memories of the Salvation Army and its Empty Stocking Fund.

“My dad was real proud,” Romero said. “He didn’t want to accept charity, but sometimes he felt sorry for us and he would go ahead and accept the help.”

The Empty Stocking Fund — in the 1950s when Romero was a boy, and today — provides food and toys for Clovis-area children and their families who need help at the holidays.

Romero said he remembers green beans, sweet potatoes and meat were part of the food baskets his family received, and he especially remembers a cap pistol he received when he was about 9.

“That made my Christmas,” he said. “I really wanted a gun.”

The Empty Stocking Fund is still helping, seven decades later. It provided food baskets and toys to more than 20 families this year, according to Salvation Army Lt. Kelly Berggren.

Residents donated $3,785 to the fund as of Christmas eve, Berggren said.

Clovis’ Fraternal Order of Eagles was among the organizations and individuals who contributed. The Eagles gave $1,000 as they have each of the past three or four years, said Romero, one of the club’s leaders.

Empty Stocking was just one of seven donations the Eagles made last weekend, Romero said.

They give about $70,000 annually to area charities. Last weekend they made contributions to cancer funds, a children’s home, a senior center and the Clovis Area Transit System in addition to Empty Stocking.

Their biggest benefactor each year are dozens of children they take on shopping sprees. This year, the Eagles and about 100 volunteers took 98 youngsters shopping, providing them with $14,507 they often spend on their parents or siblings.

The experience always reminds Romero, now 70 and retired from the post office, about those lean years his family had growing up in Clovis.

“My dad never had a very good job,” he said. “I know a lot of people need help.”

Berggren said Empty Stocking donations will continue to be accepted at the Salvation Army, 317 E. Second St.