SALISBURY — As with almost any nonprofit organization, it takes a team to accomplish the mission.

Dottie Rebhan knows that from her experience with the Humane Society of Rowan County, so with her Christmas Happiness contribution she decided to honor the organization’s volunteers.

“They are the kindest, most dedicated, hardworking people you will ever meet,” Rebhan said of the volunteers.

The group is more than just a collection of locals who care.

“They are regular everyday people but they will go at the drop of the hat to help an animal that needs it,” Rebhan said. “And, like a lot of volunteers they don’t get a lot of thanks.”

Rebhan hopes the gesture can serve as that token of appreciation.

Humane Society of Rowan County President Jane Hartness said its just the volunteers of the group’s nature.

“It’s what we choose to do and its what we do,” Hartness said. “It can be 24 hours a day sometime. Thankfully, its not always that way but we get a lot of calls and we try to help everybody that we can.”

Since the organization is not an extension of any governing body, it relies exclusively on grants and donations to maintain its operational expenses and volunteers to man the stations. Of those volunteers, various tasks are asked.

“We have volunteers who have their specialty,” Hartness said. “We have someone who writes grants for us. We provide info and she writes grants for us. We pick up our messages remotely, but they are picked up and returned seven days a week by volunteers.”

Or if someone calls and needs pet food, a volunteer from the humane society will schedule a time to make that delivery or to organize and assist with fundraisers.

There will always be a need for volunteers given the humane society’s line of work, but Hartness said the work is a reward in and of itself.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the Humane Society of Rowan County is encouraged to call 704-636-5700 or email them at hsrcnc1973@gmail.com.

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

The current running total is $32,063.19.

Recent contributions include:

• In memory of our parents Russell and Ann Barber, love the Barber children — $100

• Anonymous — $200

• In memory of Howard and Norma Jean Fetterman and Kathy Wos, by Dave Gross — $250

• In honor of our neighbors on Winged Foot Drive, by Charles and Norma Goldman — $50

• In honor of all the hard working dedicated Humane Society of Rowan County volunteers, by Dottie Rebhan — $50

• In memory of Johnny Safrit, Landscape Construction Co, by Steven Arey — $100

• In memory of Jo Heilig, street artist, by Steven Arey — $100

• In memory of  John and Catherine Kirk and in honor of their children: Mary Ann, Jay, Johnny, Margie, Cathy, Rita and Betty, by Joseph Kirk — $25

• Spencer Women of the Moose Chapter 1197 — $100

• In loving memory of Bill and in honor of his Christmas Eve birthday, by Becky — $100

• In memory of Patrick Virtue, John O Reynolds III, Scott Rierson, David Goodman and Danny Benedetto, by family and friends — $250

• In memory of Bud and Retta McClamrock and Dallie and Darwin Billingsley and in honor of Larry Frick, by Kim and David Billingsley — $250

• In memory of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Yost, Jack and Peggy Yost, Buddy and Mildred Yost, Tom and Frances Wilson, John and Edith Mesimore, Anne and Gene Wilson, Dupree and Evelyn • Stone, Sue Frick, Charles Mesimore, Jerry Parker, Ronnie Yates Sr., Thomas Honeycutt, Sonny Bolmon and Patty Stone, by the Yost Cousins — $150

• In memory of Jim Wilson, by Anne — $100

• In memory of Richard Lentz, by Anne — $100