Sandy's Stocking...Sharing Our ELF ENERGY Since 2017!
How It Started, How It's Going
Sandy's Stocking began operations in 2017 and focused for the first 7 years on distributing thousands of stocking bags to children in need throughout the local area (far northwest suburbs of Chicago). Founded in honor of her mother (Sandy), Leslie LaMarca has very fond memories of the holiday stocking tradition and wants to make sure as many children as possible receive the joy given by this special, time-honored holiday tradition. (Check out a very cool article that was published about us our first year!)
The stockings bags are stuffed with age-appropriate items such as small toys, candy/gum/mints, school supplies, books, art supplies, and personal hygiene/personal care items. Currently, our Stocking Bag project serves children in need age 3 to 18. We work with various local agencies who serve families in need to distribute the bags. (Visit the project page on our website for more information about this project).
While the Stocking Bags remain our cornerstone and largest project, in 2024, we “rebooted” the organization after a brief hiatus. We expanded the organization’s mission and added 4 additional projects to our annual calendar! CHECK OUT OUR ANNUAL PROJECT CALENDAR HERE. We also updated our logo!
Sandy’s Stocking began our mission in partnership with another non-profit organization, but became our own 501(c)3 in the Spring of 2021 - almost exactly on Sandy's birthday (March 19)!
Our Updated Mission (2024)
The core ambition of Sandy’s Stocking is to cultivate joy and lightheartedness for underprivileged communities by inspiring others to contribute to the greater good through participation in our year-round projects. Sandy’s Stocking, our namesake and cornerstone project since 2017, targets at-risk youth and distributes thousands of holiday stockings stuffed with necessities and frivolities. Our projects aspire to find a balance between fulfilling essential needs and offering unexpected delight. By leveraging the forces of compassion and community, Sandy’s Stocking believes wholly in the indelible impact cumulative good can provide to struggling communities throughout the year.