News Photo by Julie Riddle

A motorist drops off a donation at a drive-thru fundraiser for Friends Together, an Alpena nonprofit group that supports cancer patients and their families. The event, continuing through 6 p.m. today, is raising money for the purchase of a new van to transport cancer patients to appointments. The current transport van, with almost 200,000 miles logged at 4,000 miles a month, will be retired soon, according to fundraiser coordinator Shelly Gibbs. The event started at 11 a.m., but people were lined up by 8:30 a.m. ready to donate, she said. Donations of any amount — even fistfuls of change — are welcome, Gibbs said, and donors may purchase a $5 hot dog lunch to benefit the organization, as well.