Thanksgiving is still eight days away, and the subject of today’s Our View is Christmas, so we proceed cautiously, knowing that we risk scorn for jumping a holiday.

But we believe it’s necessary for our objective, which is to fatten the Empty Stocking Fund, and we promise to be thankful to those who join in the effort.

You know the drill: For parts of five decades The Robesonian has had a pretty fun assignment — to raise as much money as possible, more than $1.2 million to date, to provide vouchers that can be redeemed for gifts so that qualifying children in this county will be jolly on that most special day.

The staff at the Department of Social Services, our partners in this effort, have always done the heavy lifting, which includes determining which families are eligible and registering them — an effort that will happen again tomorrow — and then spending part of their holiday making sure the vouchers reach those families so they can be used for gifts at Kmart and Roses.

But the toughest job for those at DSS is telling the parents of children deemed eligible for help that the money raised has run out.

Last year, the good folks in this county contributed more than $48,000 to the fund, enough to pay for Christmas for about 940 children ages 1 to 13. But there were an equal number of children registered for the fund who did not receive help, prompting DSS officials to call us and ask that this year we begin taking contributions a little earlier with the hope more money can be raised.

We happily did so, and the Empty Stocking Fund will return on Thursday — about a week and a half earlier than last year.

But we aren’t convinced that the earlier start will translate into more donations, though we would be pleased to be proven wrong. We believe what is needed is for those that have contributed in the past — individuals, civic clubs, schools, churches, businesses, etc. — to dig a wee bit deeper and contribute more, but more importantly we find new contributors, individuals, civic clubs, schools, churches, businesses, etc., that have not given the past.

There are more than 300 churches in Robeson County, and just imagine if each one made a gift of at least $50. That checks 300 children of Santa’s list.

With all that in mind, we reached out to the Public Schools of Robeson County, which has agreed to run a campaign in all 42 of the public schools. This newspaper will eventually recognize the elementary, middle and high schools that each raise the most money. If every child in the public schools were to donate a single dollar, that would be $24,000 raised, and 480 children checked of Santa’s list.

So today is our plea that you consider a donation, or perhaps you lead an effort at your workplace, in your church, in your civic group or even in your neighborhood to raise money to help out.

Donations can be made at our office at 2175 N. Roberts Ave. or mailed to that address. The Robesonian will publish photographs accompanying donations of $500 or more if that is requested.

We guarantee to those who contribute that you will take great pleasure in doing so. No gift is too small.