Breakfast Bunch passes the bucket to collect for Christmas Happiness
Published 12:00 am Friday, December 18, 2015
By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com
The men of the self-proclaimed Wink’s Breakfast Bunch have been meeting at the barbecue joint since 1986. The group is made up of mostly Piedmont Natural Gas employees, but also local businessmen, retirees and other local folks.
A few years ago after the men passed around a bucket for tips, a few of them had the idea to pass the bucket for Christmas Happiness.
“It was something we were talking about doing,” said Wayne Kennerly.
Kennerly and friend Jim Epting thought the cause was worthwhile and asked the others at the breakfast gathering to chip in a dollar or two. The men have been giving for a number of years and have given in honor or memory of those who attend and those breakfast buddies who’ve died.
The men started meeting not long after John Stegall, who was district manager of Piedmont Natural Gas in Salisbury, arrived in the area from Lenoir. The group has evolved into about 40 men, but usually breakfasts include anywhere from eight or 10 to a few more than that like Thursday when 26 of the group’s members met. The men come from Burlington, Winston-Salem, Charlotte and surrounding towns.
Kennerly joked that they liked to solve the world’s problems over breakfast. They also talk about who has certain aches and pains.
The Christmas Happiness program is sponsored by the Salisbury Post and the Salvation Army of Rowan County distributes the funds. Each eligible child receives a voucher toward the purchase of gifts. Contributions will be taken through Christmas Day.
Bring contributions to the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or mail them to The Salisbury Post Christmas Happiness Fund, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, N.C. 28145-4639. Make checks payable to the Christmas Happiness Fund and indicate how you want your donation listed.
Thursday’s donations:
• In memory of our parents, Mr. and Mrs. S.D. McCall and Mr. and Mrs. M. H. Kluttz by Judy and Richard Kluttz … $200
• In honor of our son, Daniel and daughter-in-law, Alli, for all the love and happiness they bring into our lives by Kathy and Dale Myers … $250
• In memory of Gary and Brian Carter and the best dog ever-Maggie by Brenda Carter … $25
• In memory of June and Kermit Eshelman by Ruth and John Philpott … $100
• In memory of Ray and Irene McCombs … $100
• In memory of my son, Jody Peeler by Jane Peeler … $25
• In memory of Ray and Steve Weddington and in honor of Cora Weddington by Don and Gayle … $50
• In memory of our Dad and Mom, Claude and Martha Trexler by Deannie and Kyle, Carolyn and Royce, Wayne and Doris, Gayle and Don … $100
• For Community Spirit … $37
• In loving memory of John and Reba Safley by Don and Marcia … $100
• In memory of David L. Huffman by Kyle Huffman, Jennifer, Jimmy, Katie, Kenzie and Chase Shoaf … $100
• In memory of our grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. William Huffman and Mr. and Mrs. Dawson Weatherman by Kyle Huffman and Jennifer Shoaf … $50
• In memory of Ruth E. Deadmon by Kyle Huffman and Jennifer Shoaf … $50
• In memory of Roy and Louise Drye, Raymond and Susan Dennis, Hoy and Bonnie Drye, Shirley Payne and Linda Swink by Pete and Linda Drye … $50
• In honor of our children: Wayne, Kena, Jeff, Kevin and Keith … $100
• In honor of our Sunday School Teachers, Ronnie Miller and Gary Daniel by Eicie Earnhardt SS Class of Immanuel Lutheran Church … $40
• In memory of Papa and Grandma Helms, Papa Sedberry and Mimi by Vicki and Charles Butler … $50
• In memory of J.P. Helms by Vicki and Charles Butler … $50
• In honor of Sally Helms by Vicki and Charles Butler … $25
• In honor of Jimmy and Anne Wilson by Vicki and Charles Butler … $25
• In honor of Edith and Don Julian by Vicki and Charles Butler … $25
• In honor of Bob and Fran Tannehill by Vicki and Charles Butler … $25
• In honor of Peggy McDaniel by Vickie and Charles Butler … $25
• In honor of Gordon and Carolyn Hurley by Vicki and Charles Butler … $25
• Canterbury Book Club … $100
• In honor of our granddaughters, Madison Long and Calleigh Reavis by Fred and Mary Long III … $20
• In memory of Patricia D. Carlson, my loving wife of 37 years by Mike Carlson … $100
• In loving memory of David Lesslie … $100
• In memory of Anne Fuller and Bill Leonard and in honor of Tuesday Bridge Friends: Libby, Toni, Phyllis, Janice, Kaen, Loretta and Mary by Charlotte and David Hall … $100
• In memory of Victor Farrah, Jack Owen, Don Bills, Jerry Barger, Charles Deadwyler, Gene Auten, Sonny Epting and Dick Earnhardt by Wink’s Breakfast Bunch … $125
• In honor of our teachers, Delane Turman and Renee Moore for their faithful service by Patterson-Wessinger Sunday School Class of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, Salisbury … $50
• In memory of my sister, Joyce Kneip on her birthday, December 17th by Pat Doby … $25
• In loving memory of Doris Langlais, West and Rosemary Spain and Tami Duke by The Langlais Family … $100
• In loving memory of Blanche, Quiller, Mabel, Bud, Mack, Margie, Smit, Rob and Marie … $100
• Mr. and Mrs. Paul Woodson … $100
• In honor of those who celebrate the true meaning of Christmas by Harold Poole … $50
• In memory of Wesley, Gizmo, Squirt and Lucy and in honor of Tricia, oh her special Birthday by Benny, Harry and John … $25
• In memory of Jake Fisher, Jr. … $100
Total $2,722
Running Total $39,354.08
Two correction from Dec. 17:
• In lieu of Christmas Cards to friends in Rowan County by Marie L. Fork … $50
• In memory of Baby Greg and in honor of grandchildren: Katie, Ben, Will, Cal, J.T., Heather and Ashlynn … $200
Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.
