There is one gift that will improve your property value, reduce your taxes, help educate hundreds of children and improve our community as a whole.
Please consider a donation to your local public school PTA associations.
Many studies correlate higher property values and more demand for houses in good school districts. Better schools draw more people to our area and more economic growth.
The school budget continues to get cut, and demands on the teachers continue to grow. The teachers are expected to teach more to larger classes with less supportive staff, less supplies and less pay.
Local school PTA associations are made up of concerned parents, administrators and teachers who vote on the best ways to support the staff and improve the schools and education. Your donation will improve our local schools by funding new technology, advanced learning programs and school supplies for the teachers.
Educating our children is the key to the future success of our community. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to your local public school PTA associations this holiday season.
It will be the best gift that gives!
— Lori Goodnight
Salisbury

Generosity accompanies the holiday season and many people give unwanted clothes, shoes and books to needy organizations. Non-profit organizations such as Goodwill and the Salvation Army accept these items, sell them for a modest price and use funds raised to help those in need.
Unfortunately there’s another organization collecting items for its own benefit.
Be advised that the large collection boxes (painted red or blue) located in multiple places across town belong to Better World Recycling, a for-profit company headquartered in Charlotte. A TV investigative report last April revealed that the company sometimes placed the collection boxes in store parking lots without prior consent from property owners. Even worse, the investigation found that this company takes items you donate and sells them to third world countries or recycles them. Unlike Goodwill and the Salvation Army, this company keeps the profits rather than funneling them back into our community.
In January the N.C. Secretary of State notified the company that state law requires a notice of their for-profit status be posted on all four sides of their collection boxes. The company was given until March 1 to ensure that this was accomplished. Nine months have passed since the March 1 deadline, yet there are many boxes that still do not meet requirements.
Please ensure that your donations make a difference in our county by giving them to agencies with a proven track record! Contact the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org) to check on a charity.
— Barry Robinson
Salisbury