“It was really something special, to think that somebody on the outside thinks of us in here."
4:00 am, Feb. 17, 2021
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Kelli Mankowski adds another balloon buddy to her table Friday, Feb.12, at Party World in Baxter. Mankowski is creating the balloon art with her staff to be delivered to nursing homes and assisted living facilities in the Brainerd area. After long periods of seclusion, the arrival of a balloon buddy seems to brighten the mood of residents. The international program is designed to lift the spirits of people who have not seen their families during the pandemic. Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch