Holiday Happening celebrates Christmas for good cause

The Portales Altrusa Club will be kicking off the holidays this weekend by supporting community service projects.

Fifty-five tables will be filled with guests this Saturday at the 18th annual Holiday Happening hosted by the Portales Altrusa Club.

link File photo

The Portales Altrusa Club will be holding its annual Holiday Happening event this weekend to raise money for a project at Portales schools.

According to Altrusa club member Cozetta Moore, tickets have sold out for the event, which will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Eastern New Mexico University’s Campus Union Ballroom.

Last year’s event raised $6,000 for community service projects, according to Moore, who described the event as an exciting and fun beginning to the holiday season.

“It’s become quite the tradition in Portales, because we’ve done it for so many years,” she said. “I think traditions are important this time of year to everyone.”

Lunch will be served at 11:45 a.m. and guests will have the chance to participate in a silent auction, which Moore said will include items donated by local businesses and Altrusa members.

“This year, the goal is to make a donation to the special education department at Portales schools,” she said.

Moore said the event, which originally began as a fundraiser for the club and grew over the years, runs anywhere from 500 to 600 guests depending on how many tables are sold.

“I think the first year we had 21 tables and we’ve had up to 66 tables before,” she said. “It does vary depending on what events are going on from year-to-year, but ever since we moved to the campus, we’ve usually had at least 50 to 60 tables.”

Each year the event is highlighted with every sponsored table designed with a unique and different decoration that Moore said is meant to put guests in the holiday spirit.

The event will also include door prizes and a holiday fashion show that Moore said will feature club members and community individuals.