Tea time for a good cause

COEUR d'ALENE - Nothing quite says "tea time" like a fancy hat piled high with flowers, butterflies, ribbons and feathers.

More than 80 attendees at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, in its second year, exhibited their knacks for creativity through their crazy hats and 12 beautifully dressed tables (each with a unique theme) as they enjoyed an afternoon of tea and fun while raising money for the Human Rights Education Institute.

The tea party, which was held Saturday afternoon in the Lake City Center, included three courses of light foods, a silent auction and opportunities to win prizes for "best hat" and "best table" in voting competitions.

"It's all about sharing and doing good things for people," said Sally Simundson of Coeur d'Alene. "I think the thing, for me especially, is sharing with other people that I don't see often. This is one time during the year I'm here renewing friendships and raising money for a good cause, so it's two pluses."

Simundson, a retired Coeur d'Alene school district teacher, sat with her daughter Anneliese Miller at the "Tropical Island" table, which was adorned with pineapples and items reminiscent of a paradise getaway. Miller is the board president of the Human Rights Education Institute and said she feels the tea party is just going to get bigger and better.

Last year's event brought in about $6,000 and she said this year's goal was that much or more.

"Every year we help fund scholarships for minority students at North Idaho College," Miller said. "Everything that we do is education-based to celebrate diversity and educate people on different cultures. Our community is changing with all the people moving into the area. It's a world economy nowadays."

Jeanette Laster of Hayden enjoyed tea with friend and HREI volunteer Ariele Gahn of Coeur d'Alene.

"I like all the work that they did on the centerpieces," Gahn said.

Laster dressed two tables, "Fancy Fluttering Infusion" and "Grandmother's Love and Lace." The latter was elegantly decorated and had a special meaning to Laster.

"This one here is dedicated to my grandmother," she said, gesturing. "That's her china. She loved pink, it was her favorite color. She was all about lace and etiquette. Everything I learned about manners was from her."

The tea party was a double positive for Laster, who is the community impact coordinator for United Way of Kootenai County. She said it's a great Mother's Day activity and a nice way to collaborate with the HREI.

"I love to share in supporting our local nonprofits in anyway, especially when tea is involved because that was something special that my grandmother and I did together," she said.

A few teenagers from Crosswalk of North Idaho helped serve the refreshments. Crosswalk program coordinator Mike Wood said exposing them to real-world experience such as banquet serving is part of the five-month program.

"We're trying to give them a really broad base of skills that are going to last their lifetime, and they get paid while they do it," Wood said. "When they get done with the program they'll have something to put on a resume."

HREI executive director Bob Weis of Coeur d'Alene said he thought the tea party was a success.

"I think it's fabulous that people put so much effort and energy into their costumes and the tables, so I'm kind of blown away," he said. "I expected tables to be dressed up, but not like this. In my first 30 days in Coeur d'Alene, I think that's one of the things that's really pretty amazing to me, is not only meeting the people but seeing what people do, the goodwill and sense of community that Coeur d'Alene has. It's very, very impressive."