Rose Karls was working across the street from the Alliant Energy Center, where she noticed the Empty Stocking Club toy giveaway that every year transformed an exhibit hall into a two-day toy store for families in need.
She’d take a couple hours of vacation and head over to help them out. She said after her retirement from the Department of Revenue, “I just sort of stuck with it.”
At the Empty Stocking’s Toy Depot, Karls helps unpack toys and set them up for the families who shop there at the two-day event. But her partnership with the nonprofit and commitment to bringing children joy extends beyond that.
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Karls serves on the board of the Lake Melvin Yacht Club, a volunteer-run organization that helps families in need in the Lodi, Dane and Waunakee area. That includes a year-round effort helping people pay bills and providing other help if they have a setback such as a job loss, but also getting toys to children at the holidays.
That’s where Empty Stocking Club comes in. Each year, Karls gets 75 to 100 toys from the nonprofit to give to kids through the Yacht Club.
“Empty Stocking Club has been very generous to help us gather some of the items that we need,” she said. “There’s just so much need out there.”
Visitors peruse book offerings during the first day of last year's Empty Stocking Club Toy Depot event at the Alliant Energy Center.
Empty Stocking Club is seeing that need too. The charitable arm of the Wisconsin State Journal gave out more than 8,000 toys last year and anticipates the need to be higher this holiday. The nonprofit is run entirely on donations from readers and the community.
Karls, other volunteers and donors are instrumental in helping Empty Stocking Club succeed. And when it can, the organization spreads that help to other groups with extra toys, because the goal is to bring joy the children no matter where they are.
Karls said she appreciates the joy families feel when they receive toys and are relieved of the pressure of buying holiday gifts for their children.
“They’re very thankful. They’re just sweet in their heart because otherwise they might not have anything,” she said. “If we are able to help people, we should do that.”
Kristen Clary of Mount Horeb has been volunteering with Empty Stocking Club since about 2007. She worked for what is now Agrace, and she was able to take time off to volunteer. So she chose the Toy Depot and worked first as a shopper helping families. Later, she helped set up the event.
“It amazes me to see all the new toys, especially the dolls,” she said. The toys are much different than the ones her three children, now in their 50s, had when they were young.
Clary said she plans to volunteer as long as she’s able. She enjoys watching parents walk the Toy Depot, finding the perfect gift. Sometimes it’ll take a few walks around the store to find what’s right.
Clary volunteered on her own for years and about four years ago told two friends about Empty Stocking Club. Now they all volunteer together.
“It’s just so rewarding,” she said.
Thanks to loyal people like Karls and Clary and her friends, the 450 volunteer spots for the Toy Depot on Dec. 10-11 are full. But Empty Stocking Club is still in need of donations. They can be made by returning the envelop in Sunday’s paper or online at emptystockingclub.com.
Families who need toys can apply on the website as well.
Kelly Lecker
Kelly Lecker is the executive editor of the Wisconsin State Journal.
Kelly Lecker
Wisconsin News Director
