SPECIAL TO THE DISPATCH
Mardi Gras revelry will arrive early in West Point when volunteers from the West Point/Clay County Animal Shelter throw their second annual Mardi Gras celebration.
Tickets are on sale for the event to be held from 6 p.m. until midnight Saturday, Feb. 18, at the newly remodeled Community Counseling facility on the campus which formerly housed the Mary Holmes Junior College cafeteria.
“Last year we celebrated with a tremendously successful wine-tasting event at The Civic as a fundraiser for the West Point Clay/County Animal Shelter,” said Frank Portera, chairman of the project. “This year promises to be much bigger and much better.”
“All proceeds will benefit the ‘no-kill’ animal shelter which is entirely privately funded,” said Portera. “We are completely full right now and, according to our agreement with the city and county, we are obligated to take all the strays they bring to us. Without adoptive parents, this means, until space is available, we may have to occasionally turn away private surrenders.
“We’re desperately in need of adoptive families right now, as well as volunteers,” he added. “We feel the party will give us the exposure and funds necessary to ensure we can continue to serve the county and provide for neglected and homeless animals.”
Festivities
Four major wine companies will present their wares along with two beer distributors who will present specialty craft beers during a reception from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Beginning at 9 p.m., dancing to the music of Butch Luke will begin. During this time, a cash bar will be provided.
“True to the Mardi Gras tradition, good food will be provided throughout the entire evening, and there will be door prizes, raffles and a silent auction,” Portera said. “All proceeds, including tips for our volunteer bartenders, will go to the West Point/Clay County Shelter.”
Corporate tables are available for $300, which includes a reserved table with eight tickets and your sponsorship advertised on the table. A limited amount of reserved tables for parties of eight are also being offered for $200.
“We hope the entire community will step up and help support this worthy cause,” stated Portera. “Tickets are $25 per person, and one ticket purchase will help feed an animal for several weeks. They desperately need your help. Let’s make this the party of the year for the Golden Triangle.”
Portera noted that a 10K fun run, coordinated by Robbie Robinson, will be conducted earlier in the day.
How to go
Tickets are available at the Animal Shelter located at 1212 Old Tibbee Road, or Frank’s Package Store, Coon Tattoo, Annabelle’s Antiques, Culin-Arts, and The Smokestack, all in West Point.
Committee members also selling tickets include Jane Edward Scott, Robbie Robinson, Robin Foster, Tommy Bryan, Patricia Harris and Bernard Rowe. Tickets are also available from Rita Young at Advantage Financial in the Little Woods Shopping Center on Highway 45 North in Columbus.
For more information call 662-494-5725.
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