Community connections

Attendees enjoy a meal at the Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation’s Country Sweethearts event on Feb. 4. The crowd was filled with smiles as they joined together to support those dealing with challenging diagnoses.

A poster displayed at the 14th Annual Country Sweethearts Benefit Auction on Feb. 4 showed area residents who lost their cancer battle in the last year. Foundation Executive Director Angel Ledesma said losing clients is one of the harder parts of the job, but the rewards of seeing people through a difficult time outweigh the stresses of the job.

Attendees examine a silent auction item made up of cookware at the Country Sweethearts event on Feb. 4.

Catering at the Country Sweethearts event was provided by Michael’s on the Lake. The menu included baby back ribs, BBQ chicken, roasted red potatoes, Caesar salad, green beans with bacon and rolls. A variety of nonalcoholic and adult beverages were also available.

Columbia Basin Cancer Foundation Program Coordinator Amanda Carpenter jokes with the crowd while making announcements during the Country Sweethearts festivities on Feb. 4 at the Grant County Fairgrounds.

Auctioneer Chuck Yarbro, Jr. gets the crowd rolling for the live auction portion of the festivities during the Country Sweethearts event. Yarbro and his company, Chuck Yarbro Auctioneers, Inc. are regular supporters of CBCF.