SALISBURY — John Clarence and Purnie Livengood were loving parents to 13 children. The couple raised their family in Granite Quarry in a two-story home in front of what is now the American Legion.

“We were a poor family but rich in love,” said daughter Becky Yost.

Yost, 78, and her five remaining siblings have, for at least a decade, been donating to the Christmas Happiness Fund in memory of their parents.

The other Livengood children are Betty Lippard, 88, who lives in Salisbury; Dolly Honeycutt, 86, of Burlington; Sally Schenk, 84, of Wilmington; Linda Rainey, 76, of Gold Hill; and Pete Livengood, 73, the only surviving brother, who lives in Rockwell.

The siblings and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren recently gathered for a Christmas dinner. The family typically passes a basket at the dinner to collect money for Christmas Happiness.

“They couldn’t buy us a whole lot, but we had a lot of love. They made sure we had family,” Yost said of her parents.

Yost recalls not getting much for Christmas growing up, and she wants to make sure local children get something for the holidays.

“We didn’t have much, but we did have love,” Yost said.

The Livengood children gave in memory of their parents and also their seven siblings who have died.

Yost said two of her brothers and her father served in the military. Her brother Harold died while serving in World War II. The Livengood-Peeler-Wood American Legion in Granite Quarry is named after her brother.

When all the family gathers, they number more than 200. This year, about 50 of them met for Christmas at the American Legion in Granite Quarry.

Contributions to the Christmas Happiness Fund 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. Please make checks payable to Christmas Happiness and indicate how you want your donation listed.