(This is the 22nd annual Empty Stocking story, in which the Tribune highlights the needs of families in the area. We invite the community to donate to the agencies that are helping these families to make sure none of them have empty stockings on Christmas morning. Do not send your donations to the Tribune. All money and donations should be given to the agencies.)

Abused Adult Resource Center

The staff at the Abused Adult Resource Center relates this story about one of the 104 families, including 122 children, who sought safety last year in Pam's House, the AARC shelter:

"Recently, a woman in her late 20s with three children found the courage to leave a violent relationship after three years. She finally reached out for help at the Abused Adult Resource Center. With help, she successfully petitioned for a protection order and the AARC was able to assist her with a vehicle that had been donated. This saved this family long, cold walks to and from school every day. She is now also looking for a job, an important step because she had struggled to leave her relationship due to the lack of financial resources."

Nearly 1,100 new incidents of domestic violence, affecting 705 children, were reported in the community last year, according to AARC.

These are the needs of families living at Pam's House:

n Women: Underwear and socks sizes 5-12, personal hygiene items, hair brushes, shampoo, conditioner, razors, shaving cream, cleaning products, bath towels, hand towels, washcloths, washable throw rugs (red/burgundy/green), pillows, utensils, phone cards, gift cards to get essentials, vehicle maintenance (oil changes, tune-ups and gas vouchers).

n Children:Durable toys (infant to teenager), Tonka trucks, army men, Barbie dolls, play food/kitchen items, baby dolls, Legos/building blocks, cars/trucks, size 6 diapers, children's socks and underwear (all sizes).

AARC can be reached at 222-8370.

- Karen Herzog

Community Action

With the holidays upon us, the Community Action Program is getting many calls from low-income families for food and gifts.

Community Action serves low-income families and individuals in this area and appreciates the help it gets from the community.

"We certainly enjoy helping families during the holiday season and could use the support from the community," said Andrea Werner, self-reliance coordinator.

The public can help by dropping off food items to make holiday baskets, Werner said. Other items Community Action can use are:

n For children and teenagers: Any new toys, books, art supplies, games, puzzles, movies, gift cards, clothes, hats, gloves, etc.

n For adults: Gift cards to grocery stores, gas stations or stores, household items including sheet sets, pots and pans, silverware, towels, perfume/cologne, dishes, blankets and tools.

Items can be dropped off at Community Action, located at 2105 Lee Ave. in Bismarck. Contact Werner at 258-2240 with any questions. Items will be wrapped and given to families to help them have a joyous holiday season.

- Gordon Weixel

Charles Hall Youth Services

Charles Hall Youth Services, established in 1965, has three group homes for troubled teens. They have a maximum capacity of 27 teens at a time and help about 100 kids each year, saidCharles Hall staff member Rhonda Jacobs.

The Charles Hall group homes are one of the less restrictive placement options for North Dakota teens. The kids placed with Charles Hall aren't locked down and are allowed to attend local schools.

"We don't have an on-site school or an on-site psychologist like probably the YCC does … our kids go to school at the public schools, in the community. So we work a lot with the community, with the schools and also with the medical facilities in town to get kids treatment for addiction issues or mental health issues," Jacobs said.

Although the average placement is four to six months, achild's stay with Charles Hall could last anywhere from one day to two years. This makes it hard to know how many kids will be in Charles Hall at Christmas time, so gift cards from local businesses like Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target, JC Penney, TJ Maxx or Kirkwood Mall work the best for holiday donations.

"We decided a couple of years ago to ask for gift cards so we can go out and buy the kids gifts," Jacobs said.

Donations can be dropped off at the Charles Hall office, 513 E. Bismarck Expressway, right next to DiDonna's, or they also can be mailed to P.O. Box 1995, Bismarck N.D. 58502.

- James Ziegler

BECEP

The Bismarck Early Childhood Education Program, commonly known as BECEP, is a collection of five programs established to help preschoolers and their families. The five programs are Head Start, Early Childhood Education, Early Intervention, Right Track and Right Track II.

Because the majority of BECEP's clients are facing financial difficulties of one kind or another, making a Christmas donation to BECEP this year could be a special way to celebrate the season.

Ideal donations for the children in BECEP would be educational toys, books, board games, Legos, blocks, art supplies, Barbies and baby dolls. For the children's families, common household goods such as personal hygiene products, laundry detergent, dishwashing detergent, paper towels, toilet paper and cleaning supplies also are appreciated.

In addition, BECEP will accept monetary donations to help families in emergency situations. Other items that are helpful for these families include gas coupons, grocery store gift certificates, and CAT bus tickets.

Donations can be dropped off at Richholt School, 720 N. 14th St. in Bismarck, or mailed to BECEP at 806 N. Washington St., Bismarck N.D. 58501.

For more information about donations or any of BECEP's programs, call Conna Cook at 323-4425 or Pam Haak at 323-4436 between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., Monday through Friday.

- James Ziegler

Ruth Meiers

Hospitality House

Ruth Meiers Hospitality House serves homeless men, women and children in Bismarck-Mandan. Sue Martin, the agency's director, said her clients would be thrilled to receive any of several different items for Christmas.

Children would love a new toy, new clothes, underwear, socks (don't forget the teenage children), books, warm mittens, hats and scarves.

Men and women would love:

n Gift cards to Wal-Mart, Kmart, Target

n Gift cards to a hair salon

n Gift cards to grocery stores, gas stations

n Bus passes from the CAT

n Men's long thermal underwear

n Long white socks for men

n Warm thermal gloves, hats and scarves

n Perfume/cologne sets

n Alarm clocks, portable radios/CD players

n Kitchen utensils, silverware, pots and pans, etc.

n Sheets, towels, washcloths, dishtowels

n Anything that may help them once they move into their own apartment

n Regular underwear and socks for women and men

n New clothes for men and women

n Warm jackets and coats for men and women

Gifts can be brought to the Ruth Meiers office at 1800 E. Broadway in Bismarck from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information about residents, call Lori at 222-2108.

- Tony Spilde

Aid Inc.

Aid Inc. is designed to help people in need with rent, utilities, medicine, clothing, furniture, household items and even gas on a limited basis. They have two food pantries, one in Bismarck and one in Mandan with a thrift shop in each location that helps to support them.

Clients of Aid Inc. are usually referred from other agencies and are accepted on a case by case basis.

This holiday season some of the donations that Aid Inc. will be looking for to help their clients will include hygiene items as well as turkeys, hams, stuffing, potatoes, gravy and other items that could be used to provide a nice holiday meal for those less fortunate.

Donations can be dropped off at Brightens Thrift Shop at 404 Airport Road in Bismarck.

For more information, call Roxie Polzin at 223-9150.

- James Ziegler