Need much greater this year for Christmas Happiness Fund

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, December 2, 2009

A total of 1,800 families have requested financial assistance from this year’s Christmas Happiness Fund.
Because many families have more than one child, the number of actual gift vouchers being requested is much higher. Though the last applications to come in are still being screened by the Rowan County Department of Social Services to determine if they meet eligibility criteria, one thing is certain: the need is much greater this year.
Last year, $75,927.12 was raised to help 905 families and 2,056 children.
The poor economy is obviously one reason for the increase in applications. However, Pat Spears, income maintenance program administrator for the department, said there could be more.
The change in application process may have been a factor. “Last year, we only took applications for three days, face to face,” she said. “This year, it was mail-in or call your caseworker, and we’ve done it for 11 days.”
More people being aware of the Christmas Happiness Fund may have been another, Spears said.
Gift vouchers of $30 per child (with a maximum of $120 for four or more children) have already been sent out to qualifying parents. Depending on whether enough money comes in, she said, the department could send out vouchers as late as Tuesday. “But that would not guarantee everyone receives them before Christmas.”
Spears said she would love to be able to say that vouchers could be sent to all qualifying parents by Friday. “But we’ll just have to see how the money comes in.”
Please bring 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 donation listed.
Tuesday’s total . . .$34,957.62
In memory of Kelly, Danielle and Katelyn Borate, by Don Markham $25
In memory of Bob Leonard and in honor of friends who meet in the mornings at Salisbury Mall, by Mabel Barnhardt $25
In honor of our companions, Sugar and Guy Noir, by Tom and Joyce Richard $50
In memory of Laura Ventura and in honor of Ruby Davis, by Sandra Davis $40
In honor of my great-grandchildren, by Libbie Deal $25
Mrs. Lois Simone $75
In loving memory of Robert “Bob” Parks, by Betty Parks $25
In honor of children and grandchildren, by Lane and Claudette Brown $50
Nu Wave Salon: Karen, Kim and Darlene $60
In honor of Lyric, Trinity, Grace and Andrew, my great-grands, by Mary Luther $20
Anonymous $100
In loving memory of Frank H. Basinger and Florence B. Basinger, by Janis B. and Mike Eury $20
In memory of William and Anne Huffman and Susan H. Morgan, by David and Peggy Huffman $100
Earl C. Wilkinson $100
Di and Ron Potts $25
Anonymous $20
In memory of Anne Sattazahn, by Mae Trexler Sunday School Class of Faith Lutheran Church . .$10
In honor of our Sunday school teachers, by Mae Trexler Sunday School Class of Faith Lutheran Church $50
In honor of our children, Mike, Teresa and Vanessa, and their families, by Steve and Noreen McNeely $100
In memory of Carmel Ammons, by Mike and Pat $200
In memory of Shellby Mooradian, by Bob and Linda Glover and family $25
In loving memory of Hubert Lee Fesperman, by Margaret Fesperman $25
In memory of Gladys Wagoner, by Bob $100
In memory of my husband, Harold W. Barrier, and in honor of my children, Gray Barrier and Susan and Randy Giessler, by Jennie Barrier $20
In honor of Jayne and Joel Hubbard, by Your Marlin Buddies $100
In memory of Daddy and Big Brother $150
In memory of Dewey and Wayne Hoffman, by Bernice Hoffman $25
In memory of Robert Lewis Cauble (my Santa Claus), deceased 2/25/08, by Carl Cauble $25
In memory of my daddy, Mr. R. L. Eudy, and in honor of my mother, Vera Eudy, by Patty Brown $25
Aggrey Alumni Association of Landis $200
In memory of Cecil R. Deal, by Frank and Revonda Nance $50
Adult Sunday School Class of Ursinus United Church of Christ, Rockwell $100
In honor of my loving wife, Jan, my son, Jeff, and my daughter-in-law, Katie, by Dana Samuelson $150
In memory of Albert Corriher, by Barbara Corriher $50
In memory of Melvin Williamson, by Barbara Corriher $25
Congratulations on the job you do with the fund each year. Merry Christmas and best wishes for your continued success in 2009, by Walt Ramseur $50
In memory of Dot and Coolidge Myers and Billy Ray Smith and in honor of Ellen Smith and Daniel Myers, by Dale and Kathy Myers $200
In memory of Benton T. Maner, by the family of Benton T. Maner $450
Anonymous $50
In honor of Jean L. Ray, by Carolyn and Wilbert Lyerly $100
In honor of my friends in the “GQ Crew”, by Carol Everhart . .$20
In loving memory of my husband, Jim, and in honor of three precious great-grandchildren, Kellie, Bella-Grace and Nick, by Ruby Goodman $100
In honor of our grandchildren, Natalie and Breanna, by Mary and Carl Repsher $100
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, from AMVETS Post 565 $100
In memory of our beautiful daughters, Luanne and Amy, by Mom and Dad $50
In honor of the staff of Rowan-Salisbury Schools: Thank you for your compassion, commitment and dedication to students and the school community, by the Human Resources Department $155
In honor of all my past and present four-legged and two-legged customers, by Dogs By Day Mobile Pet Grooming $100
In memory of Jody Peeler, our friend and neighbor, by the Burnhams $50
In honor of East Rowan High School Teachers Mrs. Gamewell, Mrs. Winsel, Mrs. Sprinkle, Mrs. Hoffman and Mrs. Cherry, by Jared Mathis and family $25
In honor of Erwin Middle School teachers Mrs. Klinger, Mr. Teeter, Mr. Scullion, Mrs. Allen, Mrs. Wise, Mrs. Brink, Mr. Gibbons and Mrs. Cook, by Kristen Mathis and family $25
In honor of Granite Quarry Elementary teachers Mrs. Cassel, Mrs. Cameron, Mrs. Mitchem, Dr. Rob, Mrs. Shuping and Mrs. Perry, by Matthew Mathis and family $25
In honor of Shiloh United Methodist Church Sunday school teachers, by the Mathis family $25
In loving memory of my husband, Howard C. Painter, by Jean Y. Painter $100
In loving memory of Lewis J. Alsobrooks, by Margaret L. Alsobrooks $25
In memory of my husband W.F. Straughn, by Audrey M. Straughn $100
In honor of Calvin Shaver, Keith Holshouser, Brenda Varnadore, Linda Lambirth and Thelma Barger and in honor of Joan Cline and Carol Kluttz, by Blessed Assurance Sunday School Class $100
In memory of Jody Peeler, by Fred and Billie Josey, Debbie and Peggy $20
In honor of Jesus’ birthday and our troops serving our country and our son, J.P., in Iraq, by Janet and Keith Carroll $12,500
Mac and Ann Blankenship $50
In honor of the staff at Odell Elementary รณ It is a gift to work with such wonderful and generous people, by Susan Keiger $160
In honor of our teachers and staff at Knox Middle School, by Emma and Maddie Labovitz $50
In memory of Jean Rankin and Shioban Marshall, by Jeanette Rankin $25
In memory of departed members of the Salisbury Lions Club $100
In memory of our deceased classmates, by 1959 BHS Ladies Lunch Bunch $105
Today’s total $17,150
Total to date $52,107.62