On Christmas Day last year Joyce Curl left church and was headed to Kernersville to see her grandchild. She never made it.

Curl was involved in a head-on collision that left her trapped in her vehicle.

She recalls very little of that day, but she remembers the emergency workers who came to her rescue.

Curl contributed to the Christmas Happiness Fund program as a way to say thank you to all the Rowan County EMS, Salisbury Police, Salisbury Fire, N.C. State Highway Patrol, other first responders and the Rowan Regional Medical Center staff for her care.

Two people were killed in the crash that occurred on Harrison Road.

Curl worked as a patient advocate for Rowan Regional Medical Center, a hospital career she was apart of for 11 years. She is now unable to work because of injuries she sustained in the crash.

Curl remembers a bystander asking if Curl needed her to call someone. The woman put the phone to Curl’s ear so she could speak with her son, Travis.

“So many times there are unrecognized heroes. They were there for me,” Curl said.

She was taken to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem and later to Liberty Commons for rehab.

“There’s no way I could thank everyone,” she said.

Curl said she’s even grateful to those strangers who said prayers for her and those unnamed people who came to her rescue.

“I have been blessed,” she said.

The Christmas Happiness fund provides Rowan County families in need a way to purchase presents for their children.

The fund program is sponsored by the Salisbury Post, which accepts contributions. The Rowan County Department of Social Services distributes vouchers to eligible families.

This concludes the Christmas Happiness Fund program, but any money collected this year will help begin next year’s giving.

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.

Thursday’s contributions:
Forest Glen Class of 2016 Christmas Party $303

In honor of R.C. EMS, Salisbury PD and Fire Dept., NCHP, First Responders and my ER family at RRMC and others that helped at my accident 12/25/11 by Joyce Curl $100

Charity League of Salisbury $500

In honor of my good friend and co-worker, Rose Simerson by Charlene Deese Maness $25

In memory of Mr. and Mrs. L.M. Yost, Sue Frick, Edith Mesimore, Jack and Peggy Yost, Buddy Yost, Dupree Stone, Tom Wilson, Gene Wilson, Jerry Parker, and Ronnie Yates by the Yost Family $170

In loving memory of Buck Hurley by The Leazer Family.$50

Paul and Beth Woodson $100
In honor of my wonderful teachers at Salisbury High School: Mr. Hunter, Mrs. Lawson, Mr. Lucido and Ms. Morgan by Kathryn Rusher $60

In loving memory of my wonderful husband, Leslie Lee and in lieu of Christmas cards to family and friends: Bible Book Store, Salisbury Mall Walkers and Pastor Doug and members of Salem Lutheran Church by Doris Lee $25

To honor the birth of our Savior by Rock Grove UMC $133

In memory of Mildred Casper and Fred Honeycutt and in honor of Pearl Lear and Edith Patterson (at Genesis Eldercare) by Myra and Paul Patterson $40

In memory of our parents, Clyde and Lala Deal and Nat and Martha Troutman by Raney and Pauline Troutman $200

Paul, Lynn, Meredith and Daisy $200

In memory of Ward and Helen Ratledge by George, Susan and Pat $60

The Rowan Doll Society $75
In memory of Justin and Eddie Monroe and in honor of Lisa Monroe by Rob and Carolina Monroe and Corbin and Abby Smith $40

In memory of Barry Lamonte and in honor of Sharlene, Mark and Kendall by Jewell and Ruby Allen $100

In honor of Bill Cansler and Jay Kepley by Helping Hands Class of Coburn Memorial United Methodist Church $50

In lieu of Christmas cards by Dale and Betty Boger $100

In memory of husband, E.D. Griffin and grandson, Ricky Meeks by Retha Griffin $25

In memory of Sidney Blume and Scottie Blume by Betty Blume and Family $50

In loving memory of our sons, Sam Boyd and Randy Wagoner by Norman and Barbara Wagoner $25

In memory of our parents, Ed and Marie Wagoner and Ed and Ruth Uzzell by Norman and Barbara Wagoner $25

In honor of our grandchildren, Jordan, Grayson, Taylor and Jake by Daddy Wag and Mammy $25

In memory of Bill Hart and in honor of Hilda Hart by Tim and Cindy Hart $50

In memory of Harvey and Ethel Honbarrier and Howard and Pat Sexton by Tim and Cindy Hart $50

In memory of Walter and Beulah Overcash, Fred and Helen Miller and Helen Sloop by Janet and Vernon Overcash $50

In memory of Murry and Ruby and Kent Goodman by Janet and Vernon Overcash $50

In memory of Edwin Fuller and in honor of Elaine Fuller by children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren $570

In memory of “loud” Vic Shive and in honor of Bucky, Ann and Chris Lowery by Ann Cline $50

In loving memory of Grady Lloyd by Babs $100

In honor of Sandra Wilkes by Kelley Williams $20

In honor of the physicians and staff at Carolina Women’s Health Associates, Dr. James Murphy, Dr. Jessica Blumentel, Dr. Holly Stevens and Joan Lynn $100

Christ United Methodist Church Men $100

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Loeblein $50

In honor of Cindy and Steve Martin and Family, Starla and Gary Smith and Family, Dean and Don King and Family, Margaret and Dale Basinger and Family and Nelda Rinehart and Floyd Kerr by Jo and Lanny Fowler $100

Total $3,771
Running Total $54,591.01

Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.