Each year The Empty Stocking Fund brings JOY to the lives of 50,000 disadvantaged children throughout the Atlanta metro area. With COVID-19 impacting the 2020 Holiday season, it was time for a rapid transformation of the Santa Village Supply Chain. In this episode of TEKTOK, powered by Supply Chain Now, host Karin Bursa interviews Manda Hunt, the Executive Director of The Empty Stocking Fund. Hear how The Empty Stocking Fund transformed from a brick and mortar model with a single point of gift selection and distribution to an online virtual gift selection and a network of approximately 30 distribution points. The new model will ensure 50,000 children receive holiday JOY while keeping eligible families and volunteers safe. The rapid transformation rolled out in just six months and impacted every aspect of the nearly 100-year old charity including: new physical distribution center, inventory management software, online gift selection, pick-pack-ship process. And if that's not enough, they also rolled out a new back to school program for school supplies during the midst of COVID-19. Listen up for some inspiration and motivation. Ho! Ho! Ho!

Manda Hunt is the Executive Director of The Empty Stocking Fund. Manda has nearly 20 years of marketing communications and public relations experience from companies like Jackson Spalding, MagnetBank and even her own PR company. She began working with The Empty Stocking Fund in 2004, and in 2010, she took over as executive director. Each year, Manda fearlessly leads The Empty Stocking Fund toward success, from budgeting and financial reporting to toy and gift sourcing to volunteer coordination and fundraising. Originally from the Tampa Bay area, Manda has lived in Atlanta since 2000 and is an avid (and admittedly obnoxious) Florida State Seminoles fan.

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