Just over two weeks into the 2025 Empty Stock Fund campaign, local agencies are already receiving a large number of referrals from households seeking assistance, with the majority of requests focused on utility bills and car repairs.
About 30 percent of Athens-Clarke County households struggle to pay their utility bills on time and in full each month, according to the Athens Benefit Project. Affordability remains a major barrier to stability for many families, especially during the holidays when many other expenses are higher than usual.
Vacant equity funds have seen an increase in referrals this week, with utility-related requests for support rising significantly. Through the fund, several local families have received assistance, such as:
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A young widow needs assistance paying her gas bill.
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A young woman fleeing a domestic violence relationship has used all available funds to move and needs help with her electric bill.
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A grandmother is raising her grandson on a fixed income and needs assistance paying her water bill.
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A single mother of three had to adjust her work schedule due to illness and needed help with car payments so she could have transportation to and from school.
Since November, local donors have given more than $62,000 to the campaign, but more support is needed to meet the community’s growing referral needs.
Anyone interested in donating to the Empty Stock Fund can do so online or by mail. To donate, visit https://athensareacf.org/empty-stocking-fund/ or send a check to the Athens Area Community Foundation, PO Box 1543, Athens, GA 30603. Please make checks payable to the Athens Area Community Foundation and write “Empty Stocking Fund” in the memo line.
Thank you to those who donated to the short position fund this week. Your contributions help make a meaningful difference to many families in our community. Contributors include:
red level
anonymous
Randall and Guy Edenfield
Stanley and Alice Pinson
Silver level
anonymous
First United Methodist Church of Athens – Tucker Sunday School Classes
Beverly and Don Abbott
front side bus
In memory of John Lay Jr., Jeff Lay Sr., Sandra Lay and Saniya Lay
Mary and Bill Boswell
mary gail rogers
Pamela Snelling
Patricia Barron
Richard and Joy Van Hasel
Stephen and Shirley Nester-Oleynik
Sylvia Allante
gold level
anonymous
Homage to the Usual Suspects
James Deeley
Platinum
Tribute to Glada Horvat University of Georgia Athletics Compliance Staff
Patrick and Cameron Garrard Family Foundation
This article originally appeared in the Athens Banner-Herald: Treasury funds empty: Referrals surge as families struggle with rent, utility bills and more
