Eileen and Ed Hanson-Kelly don’t get to spend a lot of time with their three grandsons who live out of state, but when they do the time is special.
The couple believe their grandsons are fortunate to have what they have and they wanted to give to some children who had less. They donated $25 to the Christmas Happiness Fund.
The annual fund helps low-income families provide Christmas presents for their children. The program is sponsored by the Salisbury Post, which accepts donations.
The Rowan County Department of Social Services distributes vouchers to eligible families.
Thinking about the grandchildren prompted the two to give.
“We don’t have kids around here to fuss over…just thinking about them,” Eileen said.
Grandsons Ryan, 23, and Cody DiFazio, 19, both attend Spring Hill College in Alabama. Their other grandson Ethan Kelly just turned 10 a few weeks ago.
“They are all very bright and interested in what’s going on in the world,” she said.
When Eileen married Ed 17 years ago, she had no children, but inherited three children, their spouses and three grandchildren.
“They all live too far away,” she said.
Hanson-Kelly said she thinks the fund is a wonderful way to provide for children who don’t have presents at the holidays.
“When we all do it collectively we can be sure that every child has something special.
“Sometimes we forget there are children in our own community that are in need, not just at Christmas time, but at Christmas we are all thinking about it,” she said.
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.
Friday’s contributions:
In lieu of Christmas Cards for our family and friends by Gail and David Fisher $50
In honor of our grandsons, Ryan, Cody and Ethan by Eileen and Ed Hanson-Kelly $25
In memory of our fallen stars, Mary McCullough, James Boyd, Janet Jackson, Brenda Feamster, Brenda A. McNeely, Willie Ballard, Ida B. Knox, Inez Price, Robert Johnson, Cynthia Rawls, Nancy Sims, Horace White, J.C. Connor by Shining Stars Club $120
In loving memory of Dwight Farmer by Patty, Tiara, Michael and Chuck $50
In memory of R.V. and Ethel Myers by Carlene Myers Davis $25
In memory of Rick, John and Martha Rufty by Carlene Myers Davis $25
In memory of Esther Morgan Fine, Buddy Catoe and Thomas and Melinda Morgan by Betty and John McHone $20
In memory of Ethel and Coy Cranford, Sheila Christie and Bill Lyerly by Betty and John McHone $20
Anonymous $20
In loving memory of Sonny Epting and in honor of Pat Epting $50
Molly Lyerly and Daisy Poplin, Union Women of Union Lutheran Church $25
In memory of Kristi N. Kruchkow by Danny and Donna Kruchkow $100
In honor of Kate and Laura Ritchie $100
In memory of Don Evers by Mary Evers $25
In memory of Earline Ayars $50
In honor of grandchildren, Jennifer, Chris and Jesse by Joseph and Margaret Mowery $25
In loving memory of Thomas J. McDaniel by Peggy McDaniel $25
In memory of John Kimball by Lee and Libby Holman $25
In memory of Todd Kimball by Lee and Libby Holman $25
In memory of Geraldine Miller by Lana Miller $50
Total $855
Running Total $23,486.70
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.