SALISBURY — The Wink’s Bunch has done it again, putting their hearts and wallets together for the Christmas Happiness Fund.

A core group of guys — sometimes women, too — meet at Wink’s  restaurant on Faith Road for breakfast most every morning.

Many people float in and out of the group, which has been meeting for more than 30 years, but current regulars and alumni alike like look forward to a Wink’s Bunch Christmas party every December, and that cherished gathering took place Thursday morning.

The 15 people in attendance passed the hat and raised $110 for Christmas Happiness.

It was done in memory of Wink’s Bunch members who have passed on.

Wayne Kennerly, a faithful participant and unofficial secretary for the group, says the Wink’s Bunch wants to memorialize 17 late friends: Victor Farrah, Jim West, Jack Owen, Don Bills, Jerry Barger, Charles Deadwyler, Gene Auten, Sonny Epting, Dick Earnhardt, Walt Sebastian, John Stegall, Pete Brown, Dick Smith, Mike McCowan, Harold Earnhardt, Jim Epting and Bill Shives.

The Wink’s Bunch started out at the former Wink’s Barbecue on East Innes Street when local officials with Piedmont Natural Gas, such as Stegall and Wayne Hayworth, began having breakfast meetings with industrial development folks that included the Epting brothers.

It was an attempt at business networking that quickly led to strong friendships and many golf outings, usually organized by the late Auten and Stegall.

The group has had upward of 60 people who have been Wink’s Bunchers over time.

Only Hayworth from the original Piedmont Natural Gas contingent attended Thursday’s Christmas breakfast. Kenerly reports that Jerry Womack and his wife, Carol, traveled the farthest distance, coming from Raleigh.

While former Salisbury car dealer Brad Farrah, who now lives in Florida, could not attend, he sent a generous donation to the Wink’s Bunch, Kennerly said.

The Christmas Happiness Fund assists families in need during the holidays so they can buy Christmas gifts for their children. The fund was started 67 years ago by a Salisbury Post editor as a way to help the less fortunate in the community. The Salisbury Post collects donations, and the Salvation Army distributes the money to local families.

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. Make checks payable to Christmas Happiness and indicate how you want your donation listed.

Today’s donations are: