SALISBURY – Alice and Walter Koontz are giving to the Christmas Happiness Fund both to honor their own grandchildren and to help someone else’s.
Alice Koontz, of Spencer, said this is her first year donating to the fund, which helps low-income families provide Christmas presents for their children. Her husband has given in the past.
“The reason I wanted to do it is to help other people who really need it,” she said. “I hate thinking about children without a Christmas. … You see it every day, and it breaks my heart.”
The Spencer couple gave $200 in honor of their three grandchildren – Jonathan, 19, Heather, 18, and William, 3.
“They’re good kids, and we thought we’d do something special this year,” Koontz said.
Christmas Happiness is sponsored by the Salisbury Post, which collects contributions, and the Rowan County Department of Social Services, which distributes the funds.
Donors can bring 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 Christmas Happiness Fund, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145-4639.
Make checks payable to the Christmas Happiness Fund and indicate how you wish your donations to be listed.
Contributions Friday:
? In memory of Rudy Butler, Guy Poplin and Betty Poplin by Bo Butler $100
? In honor of Elizabeth West, Spencer West, Davis West and Cherry Lockert by Bo Butler $100
? In memory of Mark and Wilma McKnight and Claude and Ruth Benson by M.D. and Mary Ann McKnight $200
? In memory of Wiley Morgan by Elizabeth Morgan $100
? In honor of our grandchildren by Mr. and Mrs. Walter Koontz $200
Total $700
Running Total $7,455
Contact reporter Karissa Minn at 704-797-4222.
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