Friends of Matheny volunteers at the Holiday Boutique. Vena Glenn, Jean Wadsworth, Janet Allocco, Helen Fallone, Dorothy Carter, Angie Erickson, Cathy Wild, Lisa Lee and Edana Desatnick.

If you walk through the halls of Matheny during the holiday season, you will see the door of each bedroom decorated with wreaths placed there by The Friends of Matheny, our auxiliary group that does so much to help us improve the lives of our students and patients.

And, in addition to all the gifts The Friends gives to Matheny, its members also make sure Matheny’s students and patients can find good, inexpensive holiday gifts to give to their family members. Every year, The Friends set up a Holiday Boutique, stocked with items from their Second Chance thrift shop. For very reasonable prices, Matheny students and patients can purchase gifts and have them wrapped. This year’s Holiday Boutique was held on December 10, and, as usual, it was a huge success.

The Friends of Matheny is an organization dedicated to providing support to Matheny. Since its inception in 1983, the group has raised more than $3 million to sustain Matheny’s programs and services.

Adult patient Dion Alston was assisted with his shopping by Alicia Zurlo, left, and Debra Ross.