Dan Feldner/MDN - - Billy Seright, executive director of Companions for Children in Minot, holds some oil change coupons that will be auctioned of during the Winter Funraiser March 12 at the Sleep Inn and Suites. There will be a wide variety of items up for grabs during the silent auction, as well as plenty of door prizes, an hors d’oeuvres buffet, cash bar and DJ.

Companions for Children will be offering young and old alike a fun way to beat the winter doldrums next week during its second annual Winter “Fun”raiser. Taking place March 12 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Sleep Inn and Suites, 2400-10th St. SW, the fundraising event is one of the main ways Companions for Children funds its mentoring program for children in single-parent homes. “It’s basically a party,” said Billy Seright, executive director of Companions for Children in Minot. “It’s a party atmosphere. It’s an opportunity to get out of the house at the tail end of a long winter and just kind of kick up your heels, and at the same time support mentoring in Minot, and the results of mentoring in particular.” An hour-long social kicks things off at 6 p.m., while a DJ will provide music that guests can boogie down to on the dance floor. A large silent auction will take place throughout the night, and there will be raffles for men’s and women’s gift baskets as well as door prizes.