SALISBURY — Students at First United Methodist Church Preschool came bearing two gifts on Wednesday. One was their gift of music as they entered the Salisbury Post building caroling, and the second was a donation for the Christmas Happiness Fund in honor of families to have a Merry Christmas.

Kelly Austin, director, shared that each of the classrooms at the preschool contains a big pot where they put their money.

The children bring in their pennies, nickels, dimes, whatever they have, she said, and each day they donate what they have collected.

“We call it our Penny Harvest,” Austin said.

Collection takes place throughout November giving the classes a chance to talk about being thankful and how it relates to families and it continues into December.

“We talk about giving and gifts and how we can give to other people,” Austin shared, with the money donated going to the fund to help families in Rowan County for Christmas.

The process to donate is simple. Individuals donate to the Christmas Happiness Fund, which is collected by the Salisbury Post. Typically, donations are made in honor or memory of someone. 

All of the funds that the Post collects are given to the Rowan County Salvation Army, which issues gift cards to families to buy presents. Recipients register in advance through the Christmas Bureau, which hosts an application drive where families apply for multiple programs, including Christmas Happiness and the Salvation Army’s Angel Tree. 

Donation forms have already started appearing in the newspaper. Any contributions collected after the drive concludes are rolled over into next year’s fund. 

Contributions can be brought to the Salisbury Post, located at 131 W. Innes St., weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. or mailed to Christmas Happiness c/o Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145. 

Checks can be made payable to Christmas Happiness Fund and donations can also be placed in the Salisbury Post front door mail slot.

Donations since Tuesday include:

• In loving memory of Giorgio and Mercede Porcari and in honor of R.C. foster children by Sandy Porcari — $30

• In memory of my “Buck” and our parents and in honor of our children Mike, Sara and their families by Colleen Belk — $200

• In honor of Shully Storey and in memory of Ned Storey — $100

• In memory of Ruth and Cecil Bernhardt, Gilbert and Donna Bernhardt, Phil Bernhardt, Debbie Walker Bernhardt, Judy Bernhardt, David Deese, Ethan Mastro, Thomas and Naomi King, Danny and Penny King by Vernon and Cheryl Bernhardt — $300

• In memory of John and Betty Thompson by their children — $50

• In memory of John Robert Crawford, III, MD by Mike Thompson — $50

• In memory of Alice Jamison and Pat Jamison by The Jamison Cowan Family — $50

• In honor of Cooper and Carolina Aldridge by Ben and Susan Bernhardt — $50

• In memory of Joe Hearne Rufty Kia at 23 Vietnam by Bruce Rufty — $500

• Fred & Alice Stanback — $1,000

• Jane & Mark Ritchie — $500

• Fred & Alice Stanback — $5,000

• In memory of James & Elizabeth Hurley — $1,000

• In memory of Jimmy Hurley & Hayden Hurley — $1,000

• In memory of Carolyn Hurley & Buck Hurley — $1,000

• In honor of families in need in Rowan County by Families of First United Methodist Preschool — $464.77

• Holshouser Circle 1st U.C.C. — $100

• In honor of our teachers at Faith Academy by Nolan and Carter Earnhardt — $40

• Ex Librus Book Club by Dottie Abramowski — $100

• In memory of Dumont Stockton and John Leazer Jr. by Dona Lyerly Wilson — $100

• In loving memory of Judy Goodman and David Goodman by Sandy Goodman — $200

• In memory of my husband Ray E. Hollowell Sr. by Libby Hollowell — $50

• In memory of Grady Howard by Barbara Howard — $100

• In honor of our Sunday school teacher, Larry Clodfelter by Providence U.M Church Adult Sunday School Class — $200

• In memory of Earline Ayars by Anonymous — $50

• In memory of my husband Howard Goodman by Virginia Goodman — $100

• In honor of all veterans, past, present and future by AMVETS Post 565 — $50

• In honor of teachers at Overton, Knox and Salisbury High by Hannah and Anne Claire — $200

• Anonymous donor — $150

• In memory of Wesley, Tiger, Squirt, Fluffy, Gizmo, Stinker, Brownie, Chloe and Lily. In honor of Tricia on her birthday by Benny, Harry and John — $100

Total: $12,834.77

Running Total: $26,057.78