The B.A.N.G. gang continues giving to benefit local children
Published 12:00 am Friday, December 21, 2018
- Illustration by Mark Brincefiled.
SALISBURY — A group of men who were founders of the Hillbilly Hiking Club have set their sights on a new cause and formed the B.A.N.G. (Balloons Are Not Green) Gang. This week, they made a donation to Christmas Happiness like they’ve done for the past 10 years.
The men set up the group to remind people that balloons released to memorialize loved ones damage the environment and animals, said member Whitey Harwood.
As the Hillbilly Hiking Club, the men had in the past always memorialized country-western singers. This year, they paid tribute to singers who recently died, including Roy Clark, Freddie Hart and Tony Joe White.
They also wanted to honor people who held special places in their hearts, including Noah Brisbin, the son of member Richard Brisbin, who is getting married; and nurses Sharon Jones and Terry Hand, who look after “Pawpa” at the Hefner VA Medical Center.
Contributions to the Christmas Happiness Fund may be delivered to the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or mailed to Salisbury Post Christmas Happiness Fund, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145-4639. Please make checks payable to Christmas Happiness and indicate how you want your donation listed.
Today’s contributions are:
In honor of Everyman’s Bible Class; First Presbyterian Church; our leader Vic Bost and all our teachers; Keith Garner, Rip Collins, Randy Lassiter, David Hall, Don Sayers, Ed Lewis, Carol Simmons, Barry Sang, Tony Almeida; Livingstone professors Trevor Eppehimer and Vergel Lattimore; and our very own Revs. Lara and Josh Musser Gritter, by Johnny Safrit, $200
In honor of the nurses and physical therapists in the cardiac rehab center by Henry B. at Novant hospital here in Salisbury, $100
In loving memory of Fred C. Josey and in loving memory of Billie Josey and family by Debbie Doby, $25
In memory of Dermot and Katharyn Weaver, Ned, Ilene and Mark Norris by Eric, Kathy, Erin, Kristen, Jonathan, Zack and Tyson, $100
In memory of deceased members of the Class of 1955 of Spencer High School, $250
In memory of Roy Clark, Freddie Hart and Tony Joe White and in honor of Noah Brisbin for getting married and Sharon Jones and Terry Hand for looking after Pawpa at the VAMC, by the B.A.N.G. Gang, $25
In honor of Dan Wales, Jeff Barnhardt, Lisa Dixon and all the other volunteers of Rowan Little League by the Yang family, $100
In memory of Minnie Grabowski, a charter member by the Rowan Red Hats, Marla Lowery, Gloria Rabon, Diannne Hill, Patsy Barringer, Lena Sellers, and Laverne Thompson, $80
In honor of our Sunday school teachers, Debbie Miller and Billy Goodman, by the Arthur Shipton Sunday School Class at Immanuel Lutheran Church, $50
In memory of Ray and Irene McCombs, $200
In memory of Clifford Ray and Wilbert Lyerly Sr. and Pearl K. Lyerly and in honor of Wilbert and Carolyn Lyerly by Jean Ray, $500
In loving memory of Leslie Tucker and Lettie Mabry by Linda and Terry Thomas, $100
In loving memory of Judy Bringle by Jennifer Bringle Handy, $25
In memory of Whitney and Ida Mae Kluttz by Sarah Holshouser, $100
In memory of my husband, Howard Goodman, and in honor of Vickie Goodman Reid and son Douglas Goodman by Virginia Goodman, $300
In memory of Robert Reid, my husband, by Vickie Reid, $100
In loving memory of Ben B. Wagoner and W. Ralph Peeler by Irene W. Peeler, $50
In memory of J.C. and Etta Eagle Haywood and Lousie Basinger by Carl and Dottie Eagle, $100
In honor of Phyllis Beck, who keeps us together; Charles Goldman, who proves we are still alive; and Edie Pring, who sorts us out in Charles’ photographs, by Boyden High School Class of 1959, $545
In memory of Al Boulus by his wife, Thelma Boulus, children and grandchildren, $100
In loving memory of Leonard Jr. and daughter Mary Alice Rabon by Gloria Rabon, $25
In loving memory of our parents and granddaughter by Warren and Evelyn Morgan, $100
In memory of James F. Sifford, a great brother and uncle, by Joyce, Thomas and Anamarie, $30
In honor of Barb and John Salamone; Merry Christmas! We love you by the Byars family, $25
Today’s total: $3,230
Running total: $41,652.31
Correction: In memory of Joel and in honor of my special friends and Oliver (the dog) by Jayne, $100
Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.
