With over 350 attendees, this year’s True Friends – Camp Friendship holiday fundraising party was bigger than ever. Held last Friday, the annual event is to raise funds for True Friends.

 

Party guests enjoyed hot and cold hors d’ oeuvres, a dessert buffet and wine, liquor and beer tasting by Coborn’s. There were 154 themed silent auction baskets to bid on and 10 raffle items, including a signed Twins baseball, paintings, a quilt, an American Girl doll and a giant water mat. 

 

There was also a 50-50 raffle, with 10 winners of $100 each.

 

To the delight of the lucky recipients, the 48 poinsettias that decorated the tables were given away at the end of the evening. The plants were donated by a local nursery.

 

The holiday party is hosted by the True Friends – Camp Friendship Auxiliary, who are not only in charge of the evening, but who do all the preparations, including decorating, baking and making the hors d’ oeuvres with the help of Camp Friendship. The auxiliary consists of 35 active members.

 

The group also spends countless hours soliciting donations from local businesses and creating the baskets for the silent auction. There were close to 200 donors this year, with support from all the surrounding communities, including Annandale, Buffalo, Clearwater, Clear Lake, Kimball, Maple Lake and St. Cloud and area Legions and Lions clubs.

 

This year’s holiday party was once again a success, meeting the auxiliary’s fundraising goal.

 

True Friends’ mission is to provide life-changing experiences that enhance independence and self-esteem for children and adults with disabilities. True Friends provides camp and respite experiences to children and adults with a variety of disabilities, along with their family and friends. For more information, visit truefriends.org.