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Every Thanksgiving, the Salisbury Post kicks off the Christmas Happiness Fund to provide gifts for disadvantaged children. And every year for 48 years, readers have come through in a way that is both humbling and inspiring. Rowan County is a generous community.
This year may hold tougher challenges for Christmas Happiness and other efforts to raise funds for families in need. Some 3,000 area people have lost jobs over the past two years through layoffs and plant closings. Unemployment in Rowan exceeds 9 percent. Families accustomed to regular paychecks are struggling with none, or trying to pay their bills with much less income.
Demands could be greater than ever on Rowan Helping Ministries, the Salvation Army and countless other agencies that families turn to at times like this. They will need your help.
So we’re asking you to give to Christmas Happiness and to remember the many worthy community organizations that rely on donations. This is one season when the call for help may be particularly urgent.
The United Way of Rowan County pulled off a powerful feat this month when it exceeded its $2 million fund-raising goal. With so much bad news on the job front, some people were worried that the annual fund drive might not come close to its goal. Only a true optimist would have predicted that donations and pledges could surpass it by some 3 percent.
Fortunately, donors across the county recognize the good work that the United Way agencies do —from Boy Scouts to Rowan Rescue Squad —and kept their pledges up.
Now it’s time to consider holiday gifts, and we hope you’ll remember Christmas Happiness. It started in 1952, when then-Editor Spencer Murphy felt moved to action. The director of the welfare department, Lucille Donnelly, had told him of the great need she saw among children in the county —children for whom Christmas might be just another disappointing day because their parents could not provide the “gift” of new shoes, a warm coat or a simple toy.
Through the decades, readers of the Post have contributed over $1 million for those children. The contributions to Christmas Happiness go directly to the Department of Social Services, which gives vouchers to participating families.
The way the community responds is truly gratifying. Just today, a group of preschoolers loaded up their wagons and toy shopping carts and hauled a load of pennies to the Post. From eager school children to anonymous, longtime benefactors, Christmas Happiness helps people of all walks of life make the difference in the life of a child — for one special day.
We thank you for considering a gift to Christmas Happiness again this year, and for remembering the many forms need takes all across the county.
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