Joe Caldwell and his wife, Lola Caldwell, went to the Corbin Rotary Club meeting on April 3 expecting to hear from Corbin Mayor Suzie Razmus, who was supposedly the scheduled speaker.
Instead, the couple, who have spent much time helping others, found themselves the center of attention as the club honored them for their years of service and hard work helping to organize the Empty Stocking Fund Christmas giveaway and the Rotary Club International Dinner.
“All of this was a cover-up to hopefully surprise Joe and Lola,” noted Corbin Rotary Club President Lisa Kersey. “For 36 years, Joe has been a Rotarian. Lola has served right along beside him for a majority of those years. She officially became a member in 2022.”
“You saw a need in our community and not just our town, but the surrounding towns as well. For 36 years, you have met that need and provided a little bit of magic for children and families and invited us along the way. Thank you,” Kersey said.
The Corbin Rotary Club’s Empty Stocking Fund Program started in 1988 when they delivered gifts to the homes of 75 children.
In 2007, the Empty Stocking Fund helped a record 788 children, who got their presents during a party at Forest Lanes Bowling Alley.
In 2016, 432 children received gifts during a celebration held at The Corbin Center and what was then Tri-County Cineplex.
In 2020, the program moved to Immanuel Baptist Church in Corbin.
In its 36 years, the program has raised a total of $774,000 and has served about 20,000 children.
“Joe and Lola put their heart and souls into this program,” Kersey noted. “Think about the work that they do after hours behind the scene. The calls they take after hours. The trips that they have made to and from the store. The deliveries they make after people don’t show up to get their gifts. The setting up and tearing down. They pretty much have it down to a science. We pretty much just have to show up, do what they tell us and go home.”
The program has had a number of non-local donors in past years too.
A Hasbro employee once had money deducted from his paycheck each month to donate to the Empty Stocking Program. He donated over $20,000 in a two-year period. A New Jersey man left 1 percent of his IRA to the Empty Stocking Fund.
Over the years, the Empty Stocking Fund has seen plenty of VIP guests, including governors, lieutenant governors, state auditors and Santa Claus, of course.
Kersey told the story of one year when then Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher and his wife visited the program when it was held at Forest Lanes. Fletcher helped one little girl put on a new pair of shoes that she got through the program, and asked the girl if she wanted to wear them home. He got an unexpected reply.
“She said, ‘No. Put them back in the box. That is the only thing I will have for Christmas,’” Kersey said adding things like this are what motivates Joe and Lola Caldwell to keep going.
Joe Caldwell said that every time this story is mentioned, it brings tears to his eyes.
“That is what I work for, children that need our help,” Joe Caldwell said encouraging everyone in attendance to help with the Empty Stocking Fund.
A number of the Caldwell family members were present for Thursday’s meeting, including grandson Benjamin Wilson, who noted that his grandparents put everything into the program and helped their family to see the importance of the program.
“I am going to make a promise to you today that we will continue to do everything we can do in the years going forward to keep it going the way it has always been done,” Wilson said.
Great granddaughter Bailey Wilson thanked her great grandparents for introducing her to the Empty Stocking Fund program.
“I have learned to help others and learned the importance being part of a community too. I can’t wait to learn more,” she said.
Corbin Rotary Club Member Milly Burkhart added that Joe and Lola Caldwell were also instrumental in the Rotary Club International Dinner, which is a joint program of the Corbin Rotary Club and the London Rotary Club. The dinner is the largest program in the district that raises funds to eradicate polio.
The 15th Annual Rotary Club International Dinner is officially sold out. A total of 38 hosts have been confirmed for the April 12 dinner. Proceeds go towards eradicating polio.
“It would not have happened if it had not been for Joe Caldwell, who brought these two clubs together,” Burkhart said. “We owe them a debt of gratitude. We know Joe needs his Lola.” Burkhart presented the couple with a clock and a plaque of appreciation on behalf of the club.
While Razmus didn’t turn out to be the day’s keynote speaker, she was at the meeting and presented Joe and Lola Caldwell with a plaque naming them Corbin Colonels.
“I cannot think of two more deserving people in our community to be celebrated than you two. You just work tirelessly on behalf of our city and on behalf of our people,” Razmus said.
The club also announced at the April 3 meeting that the Dave Hudson Memorial Rotary Scholarship Golf Scramble will take place on May 9 at the London Country Club. The event funds the annual scholarship program for seniors at Corbin High School and Lynn Camp High School.
For more information about the golf scramble contact Matthew Taylor at (606) 620-7348, Mike Sparks at (606) 521-0489 or Josh Curry at (606) 765-3114.
Rotary District Governor Xandy Stewart was in attendance at the April 3 meeting.
