The final totals are in, and the news is absolutely wonderful.
Thanks to a carry-over of about $40,000 in contributions that came in after last year’s Christmas Happiness deadline, all of the applicants who qualified for this year’s fund received gift vouchers for their children.
Sandra Wilkes, director of the Rowan County Department of Social Services, said the last $30 gift vouchers were sent out Monday, raising the total number of children served to 3,576. “This represented 1,667 families,” she said.
Last year, vouchers were sent out for 2,056 children from 905 families.
“We served more than 1,500 more children this year,” Wilkes said, “and 762 more families benefitted from the program this year than last.”
Wilkes said many applicants shared stories of being laid off or on short time and not having enough money to feed their families or buy gas to go to work. “They just didn’t have funds left over for Christmas,” she said.
All of last year’s vouchers were mailed out by Dec. 21, which still left several days before Christmas for contributions to come in. Had it not been for the carry-over from last year, this year’s fund would have fallen substantially short.
As of Monday, $67,324.17 had been raised for this year’s Christmas Happiness Fund.
Wilkes said Rowan County residents who were able to make donations this year really stepped up to the plate. “Every donation of every size from $1 to, I think the largest was $12,500, and everything in between is greatly appreciated,” she said.
Money that continues to come in will be used for next year’s fund. Please bring your Christmas Happiness contributions to the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or mail them to the Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, N.C. 28145-4639.
Make checks payable to the Christmas Happiness Fund and indicate how you wish your donations listed.
Friday’s total $62,129.87
In honor of Salisbury High Students, by Salisbury High School Guidance Staff $33.04
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Yost, Buddy Yost, Jack and Peggy Yost, Edith and John Mesimore, Sue Frick, Gene Wilson, Tom Wilson, Dupre Stone, Jerry Parker and Ronnie Yates Sr., by the Yost Families $111.00
In memory of Wesley and in honor of Tricia, by Squirt, Lucy and John $10
In memory of Carolyn Rogers of St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, a very sweet lady, and Claude and Geneva Woodie, our loving parents, by Jan and Alice Thomson and the Woodie Children $100
In memory of Raymond and Thelma Swicegood and Lawrence and Juanita Ketchie and in honor of Frank and Connie Swicegood, by Rodney, Tina, Mandy and Stefanie $30
In honor of Jason, Jamie, Jessica, Joshua, Jennifer, Jeffrey, Cassidy and Madison $100
In memory of Lester and Pauline Kirk and Lincoln Morgan, by Amanda Morgan $30
In memory of Polly G. Holshouser, our founder, by Circle 7 First UCC $100
In honor of Mrs. Childers, Ms. Holtz, Mrs. Killian, Mrs. Penninger, Mrs. Perrell, Mrs. Rhyne and Mrs. Sechler, by Corbin and Abby Smith $40
In loving memory of Harold Teague and Jay and Mary McCollister, by Rick, Kathey and Andrew $50
In loving memory of our colleague and friend, Marilyn Webb. Marilyn’s presence and her loving, compassionate spirit are missed greatly at our school, by Southeast Middle School Staff $100
In honor of David Miller, Angela Lingle Linder, Jill Earnhardt, Tammy Pritchard, Christa Graff, Sharon Beck, Jane Fallis, Tonya Page, Elaine Brown and Justin Kepley, by Millbridge Elementary Faculty and Staff $100
In honor of A.D. and Jane Powell, by Don and Brenda Julian $200
In memory of Theodore Heilig, by Lisons Book Club $20
In honor of the staff of the Leon Cannon Memorial Hospital and Rest Home, by Hoe Sakofski $10
Anonymous $100
Merry Christmas children of Rowan County, by the children of Mrs. Wineka’s kindergarten class at E.D. Koontz Elementary, “The A Team” $34.26
In honor of the Administrative Staff at E.D. Koontz Elementary, Mr. Dunlap, Ms, Reid, Mr. Cowan, Ms.Rogers, Ms. Moore, Ms. Lipe and Ms. Randolph, Merry Christmas from the Hospitality Committee of Koontz $100
Anonymous $25
In memory of Ken Smoot, by Betty Smoot $25
In loving memory of my husband, Bill Welch, by Brenda Welch $100
In memory of the Gemayel and Fuller Family, by Mr. and Mrs. Ton Gemayel $200
In memory of James Ryan Jr., Jimmy and Mike Ryan, by Georgia Ryan $20
In memory of Annie L. Hall, by Cara and Beth Graham and Floyd Hall $40
In memory of all deceased members of our families and in honor of our children and grandchildren, by Earl and Betty Sides $25
Anonymous $100
United Methodist Women of Grace United Methodist Church $100
In memory of Carl M. Benfield and Glenn. R. Hartzoge, by Marsha and Tim $30
In loving memory of parents Girlie and Virgil Goldman and sister Jeanie Supriwski, by Ruby and Dean Long $100
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Thompson, Pansie Bame and Jeff Smith $50
In memory of loved ones interred in Brookhill Memorial Gardens, Rockwell, by family and friends’ donations to our luminary service $250
In loving memory of my husband, Howard R. Goodman, by Virginia Goodman $100
Anonymous $200
In honor of Lord Jesus Christ $20
In honor of my daughters and families, Cheryl Grubb, Tammy Brown and Wendy Peeler, and in lieu of cards for all my friends, by Carol Cauble $25
Saints and Sinners Sunday School Class of Organ Lutheran Church $100
In memory of Floyd and Elsie Parnell, Davey Lee Parnell, James and Ruth Hudson, by John and Patsy Parnell $50
In memory of Gladys Little and Jim Crump, by Sandy Cashion $500
In memory of “Daddy” Donald B. Wilson, by Jeff Wilson and Anita W. Miller $40
In memory of my beloved husband, Donald B. Wilson, by Janet Wilson $20
Anonymous $100
In honor of our first grandchild, Daniel Ryan Owens, by Tom and Libby Owens $100
In honor of my precious grandson, Aidan Michael Hall, by Betty Morgan $50
In loving memory of Ruby and E. G. Faison Jr., by their daughters, Elizabeth, Bobbie and Carol $40
Brooks Sunday School Class of St. John’s Lutheran Church $255
Anonymous $25
In honor of ESOL office staff, by Lillian L. Morgan $30
In memory of Ray Cole and Alvin Cole, by Angela Wilson $25
In memory of Paul and Hazel Lyerly, by Kenneth, Bethany, Lauren and Lindsay $25
In honor of Laura and Kate Ritchie $100
In memory of Friday Breakfast over the hill intellectuals, by W. Boltz, L. Mill, T. Larrabee and R. Paradowski $100
In memory of Ja-Lo, Maddi, Augi and Snoopy, by Chris Cohen $100
Anonymous $200
In fond memory of our parents, Christine and Byron York and Mary and Ty Cobb Sr., by Beverly and Ty Cobb $100
In memory of Ilene Wise, Irene Ritchie, Trip Lampert, West Spain, Blanche Lampert, Kathleen Gray and Norman Beaver, by Pocita and Swicy $20
In loving memory of Jewrell Corriher, by Mr. and Mrs. Darryl Corriher and Children $25
In loving memory of Ardell Waters, by Mr. and Mrs. Darryl Corriher and Children $25
In honor of my friends and co-workers, past and present, by Barbara Moose $25
In memory of H.R. “Buddy” Sapp and Eva Barger Moose, by Jake, Barbara, Amanda and Daniel $25
In memory of Beth Owen, Ricky Carawan, Tom Testa and Tommy Moose, our cousins, by Jake and Barbara Moose $25
Pairs and Spares Sunday School Class of Trading Ford Baptist church $136
In memory of Buddy Catoe and Ester Morgan Fine, by John and Betty McHone $20
In memory of Coy and Ethel Cranford and Thomas and Lindy Morgan, by John and Betty McHone $20
In honor of Gwen and Frank Hampton, by Mitzi, Ronnie and Family $30
In memory of Jimmie Peeler, and in honor of Doug and Kathy Peeler, Steve and Becky Peeler, Karen and Jim Greene and Sharon and Sam Bullock, by Sylvia Peeler $100
In honor of North Rowan Elementary Staff and Students, Merry Christmas, by Angela Connolly $60
To the glory of God $20
In memory of John R. and Varina Lentz, by Daughter and Husband $25
Monday’s total $5,194.30
Total to date $67,324.17
Correction from Dec. 19 paper: In memory of JC and Eleanor Swicegood, by Barbara, Jay, Sheila and Tommy Swicegood $200