This year, Diane Labovitz’s friends are celebrating her birthday with a different sort of gift. Holly Grant says she, Diane and four others all had children in the same year at Salisbury High School.

The kids graduated high school, but over the years the group became fast friends, Grant says. They keep in touch and  celebrate birthdays together.

This year, Grant says, Labovitz didn’t want anything for her birthday. Instead, she requested that the group make a donation to Christmas Happiness. She didn’t need anything, she explained.

So Grant, along with Beth Dixon, Brenda Julian, Winnie Mikkelson and Cora Greene, made a donation in honor of Labovitz’s birthday.

The Salvation Army of Rowan County distributes Christmas Happiness funds. Qualifying families may receive a $35 voucher for each eligible child. The vouchers can only be used for children’s items.

Contributions to Christmas Happiness will be collected through Christmas Day.

Donations may be delivered to the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays. Or you can mail your gift, using this address: Salisbury Post Christmas Happiness Fund, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, N.C. 28145-4639. Please make checks payable to Christmas Happiness Fund and indicate how you want your donation listed.

Wednesday’s Donations:

Happy Birthday Diane Labovitz, with love, Beth, Brenda, Cora, Holly and Winnie … $105.00