For Sharlene Streeter, giving to Christmas happiness is a return to tradition.

“We are a very close family, and my dad always gave in memory and honor of us — always. So I decided it was time to start that tradition always,” she said.

Her father, Jewell Alley, died three years ago in the Hospice House. He was 93, and always gave to Christmas Happiness. This year, the family is struggling again. Streeter’s mother, Ruby Alley, entered Hospice care at Autumn Care three days ago. She, too, is 93.

Her mother’s declining health brought Streeter in from Ocean Isle, and her siblings in from out of town.

“We’ve been up here waiting for her,” Streeter said.

But while they wait, Streeter said she wanted to remember and honor parents who gave she and her two brothers unconditional love and who “raised us right.” And no matter what happens in the next few days or weeks,

“We’ll still honor her,” Streeter said of her mother.

While she waited, Streeter remembered her parents. Jewell and Ruby were married 70 years, and often joked that they thought about naming Streeter Sapphire instead of Sharlene.

Her father is someone she remembers as an avid gardener with a big heart for people.

“He would give you the shirt off his back, and he believed that everybody was good — no matter what they’d done. Everybody was good,” she recalled.”

Her mother was a homemaker who raised four children, and who read the paper diligently for decades — the obituaries first, then the comics.

“I’m so glad I had them. …They’re that greatest generation,” Streeter said.

Streeter also dedicated her donation to brother Mark and his spouse Carol, and to brother Kendall and his wife Karen.

Contributions to Christmas Happiness may be delivered to the Salisbury Post, 131 W. Innes St., between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays or mailed to Salisbury Post Christmas Happiness Fund, P.O. Box 4639, Salisbury, NC 28145-4639. Make checks payable to Christmas Happiness Fund and indicate how you want your donation listed.

Today’s totals and contributions are:

• In memory of Barry Alley and Jewell Alley and in honor of Ruby Alley, Mark and Carol Alley, and Kendall and Karen Alley by Sharlene and Bill Streeter: $80
• In memory of Sonny Epting by Pat Epting: $50
• In honor of our fellow Winged Footers by Charles and Norma Goldman: $25
• In memory of Billy Burke who played the piano for the Golden Rule Men’s Bible Class of First United Methodist Church of Salisbury for many years: $100
• In memory of Grady Howard by Barbara Howard: $100
• In memory of Baby Chad by MawMaw Roana: $25
• Jim and Nina: $100
• In honor of our Sunday School Teachers: John Wyatt and Larry Clodfelter by Providence UMC Adult Sunday School Class $100
• In loving memory of Jim, Sue and MacSample and Annette and H.B. Bryan by Sue and Sturges Bryan: $100
• In loving memory of our son Jim Bryan by Sue and Sturges Bryan: $100
• In memory of Don Julian by Girls’ Night Out Birthday Club: $550