Rowan Helping Ministries chooses Smith’s ‘Wagon of Bounty’ as 2018 Honor Card

Published 12:01 am Friday, October 26, 2018

Staff report

SALISBURY — Rowan Helping Ministries unveiled Thursday its 2018 Christmas Honor Card, provided by Salisbury artist Marietta Foster Smith.

Smith’s “Wagon of Bounty” is a pen-and-ink drawing also utilizing watercolor pencils.

Foster’s card reflects the organization’s mission of “God’s Love in Action.”

The unveiling of Smith’s card, selected from a number of entries by local artists, came at a Thursday evening reception held at Rail Walk Art Gallery.

Smith’s entry was the 26th Honor Card Rowan Helping Ministries has produced since starting the Christmas program in 1993. Smith’s “Safe and Warm” also was the honor card in 2010.

The Honor Card concept is for people to give the cards in honor of their recipients, while also letting them know the card helped in funding RHM programs.

Over the years, the Christmas Honor Cards have raised roughly $700,000 for the agency. A single year’s card sometimes can raise $35,000 to $40,000 alone.

Each card costs $5, or represents a $5 donation. Artist-signed sets of cards from past years also are available. The cards will be available for purchase at many Salisbury stores and several other places in Rowan County, including F&M Bank branches.