‘Tis the season to give, and the need is greater than it has been in a very long time.
With less than a week left to send in applications, the Rowan County Department of Social Services has already received more than 1,000 requests from families asking for help from the Christmas Happiness Fund, said Pat Spears, the department’s income maintenance program supervisor. That’s about 100 more than the 905 families (which included 2,056 children) served last year.
Applications will be accepted through Monday for vouchers for Christmas gifts for children. The vouchers are made possible by the annual fundraiser co-sponsored by the Salisbury Post and the Rowan County Department of Social Services.
Qualifying parents will receive $30 vouchers for each child (with a maximum of $120 for four or more children) to Magic Mart and K-Mart stores in Salisbury, Concord and Statesville.
Mail-in applications ó available in English and Spanish ó are available at the Post, Department of Social Services, Rowan Public Library and the Rowan Health Department. They may also be downloaded from the Social Services Web site.
Those who are already receiving public assistance through Work First, the food assistance program or Family/Children Medicaid only have to call their caseworker and request Christmas Happiness assistance over the phone.
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.Friday’s total $16,006.25South Rowan High School Business Department: Dale Beaver, Rosetta Everhart, Melanie Trexler $60
Daisy Hedrick Sunday School Class of the First United Methodist Church of Salisbury $100
In memory of Mimi and Pawpaw and in honor of Saylor, Sophie, Sam, Molly and Ella $100
In honor of Mrs. Eliza Miller-chapter charter member, by Salisbury Alumni Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. $200
In memory of Barry L. Alley, by Jewell and Ruby Alley $100
In memory of Elizabeth Wilson, We miss you, Mom, by John and Jan $35
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. A.L. Jarrell Sr., by A.L. Jarrell Family Corp. $200
In memory of my Dad, Norman Scott, by Diane Moon $100
In honor of our faithful teachers, Billy Goodman and Debbie Miller, by Arthur Shipton Sunday School Class $50
In memory of our loved ones, by Terry and Teresa Trammell $200
In memory of Arthur and Edna C. Pinkston, by Dorothy Pinkston Roddick $50
In memory of Buren W. Craven, by Dorothy Pinkson Roddick $50
In memory of Mr. Chuck and Mrs. Angie Null and Jack Pence $50
Edwin and Melvene Koontz $200
In memory of Don Hamilton, by George and Virginia Wilber $20
In honor of the big heart of Chef Santos, by Big E $50
In honor of Brett and Wendy Roseman, by Gwenn Roseman $25
In memory of S.M. Williams, Nona Williams and Ethel Lingle, by Larry and Sandra McKenize $300
In honor of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 342, by American Legion Auxiliary Unit 342 $25
Piedmont Singles $100
In memory of Col. Tommy Trexler, by Frances Trexler $25
In honor of B.C. and Mary Trexler, by Frances Trexler $25
In honor of Joyce Trexler, by Frances Trexler $25
In honor of Wynn Trexler, by Frances Trexler $25
Andrew Jackson Lodge 576 $250
In loving memory of Donald M. Pierce, by his wife and family $200
Jim and Nina Burton $200
In honor of Bookkeeper’s Book Club, by Robin Seropian $10
In loving memory of Mark and Freddy Gregory, by Ron, Sarah, Luke and Lindsay Hollifield $50
In honor of Lawson, Trevor and Luke, by Mom and Dad $20
In tribute to my colleagues on the news staff of the Salisbury Post: Andy, Brett, Chris, David, Deirdre, Emily, Hugh, Joanie, Joanne, Jon, Linda, Kathy, Katie O., Katie S., Lee Ann, Mark, Mike, Paris, Ronnie, Sarah H, Sarah N., Scott, Sean, Shavonne, Steve, Susan, Sylvia and Wayne, by Frank DeLoache $100
Total for Monday $2,945
Total to date $18,951.25
Some information was omitted from a contribution listed in Saturday’s Post. It should have said:
In honor of Chloe Cress and in memory of Helen F. Deal, by Sharon Brawley $35