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Christmas Belles bring in visitors, toys

 
Judy Holland at the 52nd annual Christmas Belles Coffee in St. Petersburg on Dec. 5, to benefit the Christmas Toy Shop.
Judy Holland at the 52nd annual Christmas Belles Coffee in St. Petersburg on Dec. 5, to benefit the Christmas Toy Shop.
Published Dec. 11, 2014

12.05.2014

The Christmas Belles are a team of big ideas, marvelous culinary skills and organizational genius who meet throughout the year to plan the annual Christmas coffee to benefit the Christmas Toy Shop.

They spend hours preparing treats, savory and sweet, to feed the hundreds of guests who bring toys enough to fill several sleighs. This year's casserole, with a base of sausage and grits, won raves, along with the tiny tomato and cucumber sandwiches that are perennial favorites, and the many trays filled with sweets.

Barbara and Fred McCoy opened their waterfront home in St. Petersburg for the event, and it proved to be a wonderful venue, with outdoor and indoor access on a bright, warm December day. And guests got to say hello to one of Santa's handsome elves, reportedly Charlie Lowe in red and white.

In addition to being a treat for those who attend and a boon for children who might not otherwise be remembered during the holidays, the coffee is a wonderful opportunity to catch up with friends.

The hostesses for the 52nd annual event, who not only cook and serve, but also restore the hosts' home to its pristine condition, are Mary Wyatt Allen, Marion Ballard, Jane Beam, Lennie Bennett, Martha Buttner, Lynn Cox, Liz Curry, Tina Douglass, Ashley Gairing, Kally Harvard, Rosemary Hempel, Susan Hicks, Judy Holland, Anne Long, Laurie Lowe, Breck Moorefield, Evelyn Moorefield, Glenn Mosby, Carol Piper, Maria Rawls, Nancy Rutland, Iris Salzer, Betty Shamas, Judy Stanton and Patsy Wheeler.