DeWitt County Friendship Center officials are celebrating a successful ham and bean fundraiser from last month.

Friendship Center Executive Director Paula Jiles indicates they raised $6,300 thanks to donations from local businesses and their cake auction, which was a huge hit again this year thanks to Lance Schmid.

To keep their programs free, Jiles indicates fundraisers like their ham and bean supper are vital to the organization. She says the Friendship Center isn't just for seniors, however, it gives seniors somewhere to go and socialize and stay active.

Jiles indicates the ham and bean fundraiser is their biggest fundraiser and explains they do receive tax dollars from DeWitt County, which are also vital to their operations but their fundraising efforts help offset salaries for their two-person staff.

Jiles is working on a fundraiser idea that she hopes will out-raise the ham and bean supper indicating she'll never do away with the ham and bean fundraiser because too many people look forward to it.