Our Laguna:

Alec Bridges, who performed during the reception, was a participant in “Shelter Me,” a compact disc of 13 songs with a simple message: Enjoy the music, help the homeless. The CD can be purchased at www.cdbaby.com or at Sound Spectrum, Laguna Beach Books, Latitude 33 Bookshop and Hobie Sports. Proceeds shelter programs.

Friendship Shelter has been expanding its programs since it opened its doors two decades ago, the fruition of a dream brought to reality by the Rev. Colin Henderson, with the support of community members and the city.

Over the years, the community has continued to support the shelter, none more assiduously than Jill Edwards and Kathleen Abel. Both have chaired multiple times the fundraising Dinners Across Laguna, which requires the logistic talents of a quartermaster, and they are the architects of the art auction, an event they organized for the first time last year.

It was much easier this time, Abel said.

“We kept thinking we must have forgotten something,” he added.

Edwards chaired the event, Abel the auction. They were assisted by Faye Chapman, Joy Dittberner, Marilyn Davidson, Carolyn Delino, Edie Tonkin and Justine Schnauder.

“We want to thank [seven-degrees] for letting us do the event in this fabulous space,” Edwards said. “We have a record number of sponsors tonight: 37 of them.”

Sponsors included Ketta and Jeb Brown, Dr. Gary and school board member Betsy Jenkins, Rebecca and Eric Wills, Old Pottery Place owners Joe and Jane Hanauer, Deborah and Jeffrey King, AIDS Services Foundation founders Al Roberts and Ken Jillson, David Taborelli, Richard and Paola Bisson, Jim and Mary Lawler, Hal and Joni Brice, Susan Morrison, Barbara and Greg MacGillivray, and Ilene Glassman.

This year, Glassman’s second as shelter board president, Project READY — Relapse Prevention, Employment development, Affordable housing, Determined by You — was launched.

Looking back:

 1988: Eighteen homeless adults were given shelter in a former residential hotel built in 1938 with limited stays.

 1991: The Orange County building industry and a HUD home improvement grant and city support allowed the facility to expand from 18 beds to 29.

 1995: The shelter stretched it wings to San Clemente where two adjacent apartment buildings were acquired for graduates who were ready to try living on their own.

 1998: Renaissance Club was launched to raise funds.