Recognizing public school teachers and staff for their dedication, along with providing help to families that are struggling, were two things that motivated Salisbury residents Eileen and Ed Hanson-Kelly to donate to the Christmas Happiness Fund this year.

The couple has made giving to the fund a part of their Christmas tradition for more than 20 years, Eileen Hanson-Kelly said, having previously honored their parents, grandchildren and other individuals.

They gave, she said, because she knows that “every child needs something special for Christmas” and that many families do struggle, and the fund is “a community effort to show that we love these children, and even though they may not be our children, we want them to have a fun Christmas, a memorable one and want them to get something special.”

Therefore, the Christmas Happiness Fund is a way she can join with others in the community to make this happen, she said.

“I couldn’t just do it by myself,” Hanson-Kelly said, “but my small contribution can add with others, and that’s how we can do it as a community.”

Wanting to especially acknowledge public school teachers, and she noted that she specifically said public, is because she “thinks they are being degraded and not rewarded for their hard work or their educational efforts.”

And while they don’t have children that are school-age or in the local schools, she added that they think it is the “collective responsibility” that all children get a good, quality education and it is their responsibility and concern to recognize and applaud teachers and staff.

She added that she feels that public officials have come to the conclusion that “public education isn’t worth funding, and I think that we need to recognize the importance of our public education.”

Thinking that state legislators should do more to fund public school systems instead of the private ones, Hanson-Kelly said that “public schools are a public responsibility and if we don’t have good public education, our whole economy is going to suffer, and we’ll all suffer.” Feeling that it is important to give and help, she said that when one does so by joining as a community, “we can do a great deal on many different fronts.”

The Christmas Happiness Fund provides a way for people to reach out and help children and enable families who might not have it in their budget for Christmas.

“I think it’s a way that can help fill that void for those children,” she said.

Donations can be dropped off at the Salisbury Post’s office at 131 W. Innes Street or by mail at Christmas Happiness Fund c/o Salisbury Post, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145. Cash and check are accepted, but the Salisbury Post cannot accept credit or debit card donations.

The current running total is $12,148.

Recent contributions include:

• In honor of Arnold and Brenda Herring, by Preston Herring — $100

• In memory of David L Huffman, by Peggy Huffman — $100

• In memory of James V, Burton, by Nina B. Burton — $100

• In honor of Ott and Julie Pinkston, by Dorothy P. Atkinson — $100

• In memory of Dr. Rowland R. King, by Marilyn J. King — $100

• In memory of John and Margaret Allison and Earl Christy and in honor of Evelyn Christy, by Lee Ann and Jim Christy — $100

• In honor of Jack, Allison, Eva and Jackson Egbert, by Lee Ann and Jim Christy — $100

• In memory of William “Bud” Bloodworth, by Bobby and Relena Talbert — $25

• In memory of AD and Jane Powell, by Salcoa Contracting Inc. — $1,500

• In honor of Sherri S. Caster, by Racine Douglas — $25

• In honor of Claudette M. Burnette, by Racine Douglas — $25

• In memory of Todd Kimbell on his 57th birthday, Dec. 8, by Mom and Dad — $157

• In honor of Charles and Greta, by Wilbert and Carolyn — $50

• In loving memory of Sidney and Scott Blume, Brother — Bob Lyerly, Sisters — Margaret Douglas and Martha Deal, by Betty Blume and Family — $50

• In memory of my parents, JP and Sally Helms and sister Libby, by Pam Clark — $100

• In memory of our veterans by Richard and Carolyn Leonard — $200

• In honor of Granny Colleen Belk and in memory of Tater Buck by Rosie and Weston Holloway and Callie Tennant — $50

• In memory of parents Leroy and Laura Neely, son Anthony and husband Vernon, by Phyllis Thomside — $100

• Georgette and Conan Thompson — $250

• In honor of Rev. Erin Hannah Eureka Lodge #45, by Eureka Lodge #45 — $100

• In loving memory of Dennis Sims, by Dorthy Sims — $100