The Empty Table Fund will try again this year to raise $50,000 to help local families in need.

The campaign began Friday and will take donations through the end of the year. It fell short $14,500 from its $50,000 goal in 2006.

Money raised through the fund is used by the Salvation Army to help families in Colbert, Lauderdale and Franklin counties who are in need of food.

Since 1973, the Empty Table Fund, initially known as the Empty Stocking Fund, has collected monetary donations. The fund joined the Salvation Army's Red Kettle campaign Friday, and the Angel Tree project that begins today. [link]

"This is our biggest time of year for fundraising," he said. "My hope is that we can help as many people as we possibly can and not have to turn anybody away. It's hard to say we're out of funds for the month."

Contributions to the Empty Table Fund may be brought to the TimesDaily office at 219 W. Tennessee St., Florence, or mailed to TimesDaily, P.O. Box 797, Florence, AL 35631.

Kenda Williams can be reached at 740-5720 or kenda.williams@timesdaily.com.

Labels: charity