Country Friends spring membership luncheon brings 23 new members and help for local groups

Country Friends spring membership luncheon brings 23 new members and help for local groups

                                    (Photo: Betsy Heightman, Shelly Dew, Annie Garcia, Melissa Brown)

The Country Friends, based in Rancho Santa Fe where their Consignment Shop is situated, moved their Spring Membership Luncheon plus Fashion Show east and enjoyed the amenities of the Rancho Bernardo Inn.

More than 140 women came to shop May 4 and enjoy the styles presented by TRE Boutique (The Rare Earth), with outlets in Del Mar, Carlsbad and 4S Ranch. Thirty ensembles from the shops owned by Rochelle Johnson and Sheree Vihon were paraded.

The event co-chairwomen were Anna Waite and Kathe Votsis.

Among those attending were Yvette Letourneau, Cheri Salyers, Terri Chivetta, Laing Rikkers, Deborah Cross, Sophia Alsadek, Tonita McKone, Jo Ely, Laureen Bolstad, Donna Ahlstrom, Andrea Muir, Eileen Menees, Edna Sahm, Betsy Heightman, Shelly Dew, Annie Garcia, Melissa Brown, Sook Hansen, Judy Burer, Jan Fitzpatrick, Wendy Urushima-Conn, Stephanie Goebel, Sharon Ferges, Rita McNeely, and Maria Hohan.

                                          (Photo: Marci Cavanaugh, Anna Waite, Mia Stefanko, Kathe Votsis)

"The Country Friends supports human care agencies in San Diego, focusing on women, children and the elderly, with the objective of helping people help themselves," said Marci Cavanaugh, this year's Country Friends president. Their list of agencies has reached 28 this year.

The Country Friends Consignment Shop raises more than two-thirds of the annual income to fund these agencies. The Country Friends  has raised more than $12 million over the past 55 years.