Family collects $600 in change for Christmas Happiness donation
Published 12:00 am Thursday, December 24, 2015
By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com
Last Christmas, Sharon Beck’s mother, Barbara, and her aunts gave family members the gift that keeps on giving. The women, known amongst the family as “the sisters,” distributed containers to each family, asking them to toss in their spare change.
The women then asked them to “share our blessings with others,” Beck said.
The family members decided to donate all they’d collected to the Christmas Happiness Fund because it was the program their grandmother, Virginia Gentry, always contributed to, Beck said.
The sisters — Barbara, Patty, Rebecca and Debbie are the matriarchs of 12 different families that include grandchildren and great grandchildren. The families managed to collect $600.
Beck said it was important to them to take the money to a bank rather than a public coin counter so they wouldn’t have to pay the fee and lessen the amount of money they’d be able to donate.
The family gave in memory of Bill and Virginia Gentry, Beck’s grandparents. The family gathers for the holiday the Saturday before Christmas as a way to pay homage to Virginia, who always managed to get the family together.
“It sort of stuck. Both grandparents are gone, but we still get together,” Beck said.
The family hopes to make it a tradition and collect their change all year long for the Christmas Happiness Fund.
“You don’t realize when you just collect pennies and dimes and quarters. None of us are rich, but we are all very blessed, and we have a close family,” Beck said.
The Salisbury Post collects the contributions while the Salvation Army of Rowan County distributes the donations to the Christmas Happiness Fund. Families who qualify receive a voucher for each eligible child. Contributions will be collected through Christmas Day. Donations may be delivered to the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.
Donations can also be mailed to the Salisbury Post Christmas Happiness Fund, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, N.C. 28145-4639. Make checks payable to the Christmas Happiness Fund and indicate how you want your donation listed.
Wednesday’s donations:
• In memory of Janet Fisher Kepley by Ronald and Jane Woodward … $50
• In memory of Marty, Fred and Lucille and all other loved ones we’ve lost throughout the years by George, Fran and Robin Faggert … $100
• Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Bozay … $100
• In honor of my family by Bittle Deal … $500
• In honor of Bill Cansler and Susan Morris by Helping Hands Class of Coburn Memorial United Methodist Church … $50
• In loving memory of my husband, Howard Goodman and my parents: James and Margaret Wilson by Virginia Goodman … $200
• In honor of Southeast Middle School students and staff by Serving Patriots Club from our candy cane sale … $412.12
• In memory of Rosemary M. Kellner and in honor of Rachel, Jared, Wayne and Kali by Cheryl and Dick Reavis … $50
• Keen Age Club of Salem Lutheran Church … $150
• In memory of Barry Alley and Jewell Alley and in honor of Ruby Alley, Mark Alley and Kendall Alley by Sharlene Streeter … $50
• In memory of Clifford “Snookie” Bernhardt, by his wife Marian and in honor of the Rev. Maurice Staley by Marian Bernhardt and in honor of “Em” Hunt and Riley Lane, great-granddaughters by Grandmomma … $50
• In memory of Claude and Jean Lyerly and Dick and Lois Henion by Tim, Linda, and Drew … $100
• In memory of Sidney and Scotty Blume by Betty Blume … $50
• In loving memory of my father, James Ryan and my brothers, Jimmy and Mike Ryan by Kathy Stoessel … $25
• In memory of Janet Kepley by Pairs and Spares Sunday School Class of Shiloh Reformed Church of Faith … $25
• In honor of Ryan, Amber, Abbey and Ben Lawson by Jerry and Fran Lawson … $50
• In memory of Bill and Virginia Gentry by The Gentry Girls: Barbara, Patty, Rebecca and Debbie and their families … $600
• In memory of Clyde, Boyce and Don Stiller by Fran Lawson … $25
• In honor of my daughter, Mandi, son-in-law, David and granddaughters, Breanna and Natalie Lusk, Merry Christmas, by Mary and Carl Repsher … $500
• In memory of Norde Wilson, Mimi and PawPaw Goodman and in honor of Saylor, Sophie, Sam, Molly, Ella, and Graham by Kay Wilson … $100
• In honor of Geraldine Aldridge, Maribeth Baker, Rev.Gene Bost, Patsy Brown, and Irene Miller, Sunday School teachers of Grace Lutheran Senior Class … $50
• MS Support Group of Salisbury … $80
• In honor of my family past and present by Alan … $100
• In honor of children helping children by Saint Luke’s Episcopal Church Mother’s Morning Out … $55
• Happy Birthday Jesus, “A Star was Born” by Allen Temple Presbyterian Church … $25
• In memory of Mr. and Mrs. John Anderson Hall … $25
• In memory of Henry Bernhardt by His Family … $100
• In memory of John and Catherine Kirk and in honor of their children, Mary Ann, Johnny, Margie, Jay, Cathy, Rita and Betty by Joseph Kirk … $25
• Caroline Gammell … $20
• In memory of Joe and Christine Saleeby and Joe and Margaret Antosek and in honor of our grandchildren: Alex, Nick, Maggie, Katie, Mary Grace, Meredith and Marshall; our sons and wives: Steve and Lindsay, Jody and Amanda … $300
• In memory of Jim Sechler and in honor of Jennifer, John and Jacob Nicholson by Cathey … $100
• Merry Christmas to our Resurrection Life Church Family by the Hinson, Jones and Harris families … $50
• In loving memory of our angel in heaven, Todd Jones from his family and friends, Merry Christmas Todd … $100
• Senior Adult Sunday School Class of Landmark Church … $100
• In honor of all 50 year members by Corriher Grange … $110
Total $4,427.12
Running Total $53,817.45
Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.
