Bernard and Mary Penley would’ve been married 65 years last June.
Bernard, who was a deputy fire chief with the Salisbury Fire Department, died six years ago.
As a way to honor her husband, Mary Penley, made a Christmas Happiness donation in his name.
Penley also made the contribution in honor of their son, Dick, who died three years after his father.
“We just feel like we would rather give than receive,” Penley said of the donation.
The annual fund helps low-income families provide Christmas presents for their children. The program is sponsored by the Salisbury Post, which accepts donations.
Penley has given for at least 10 years. The donation was always a part of the families holiday giving instead of presents.
Bernard, a Rowan County native, retired with the fire department after 32 years, she said.
He was active in his church and with the local Civitan Club.
“If every family would give what we gave nobody would go without anything,” Mary said.
The Rowan County Department of Social Services distributes vouchers to eligible families.
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.
Wednesday’s contributions:
In memory of Robert Bost and in honor of Mildred Bost by Sandra and Lanny Bost $25
In memory of Harold and Margaret Foster by Sandra and Lanny Bost $25
In honor of our families by blood, by law and by choice by Roy and Rebecca Ulrich $50
In memory of Billie Beck Ramsey by Sam Ramsey $100
In lieu of cards to all my local friends at St. John’s Church Family by Marie L. Fork $25
In memory of Bernard Penley and Dick Penley by Mary Penley & Family $25
In memory of R G Watson, Jr. by Pat Watson $100
In loving memory of Rovie B. Williams by his family $100
In memory of Gary W. Hartley and Harriet Pinkston by Richard and Paulette Deal $25
In memory of my parents Arthur Pinkston, Sr. and Edna Casper Pinkston by Dorothy Pinkston Atkinson $25
In memory of Howard and Doris Pinkston Groff by Dorothy P. Atkinson $25
In memory of H.C. Daniel by Dorothy and Gene Atkinson $25
In honor of Ott and Julie Pinkston by Dorothy and Gene Atkinson $25
Oasis Book Club $100
In loving memory of my husband, John Maloney, brother Eugene Kelley and friend Lee Tabell by Patricia Maloney $20
Anonymous $100
In memory of David, Elijah, Jake, Andres and Marisol and in honor of Jason by The Foreman’s $100
Total $895
Running total $13,160

Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.