The Golden Triangle Regional Homeless Coalition is gearing up for its big yearly fundraiser, and it’s enlisting some local celebrities to help.

“This year, we are really excited about it,” said Susan Garton, president for the GTRHC board. “We have got roughly around 22 people that are doing it, and they are all local celebrities from Aundrea Self with WCBI, to Jaqueline DiCicco, to even the mayors of Caledonia and Columbus. We are very excited.”

The participating celebrities will bake a variety of treats to be sold during the bake sale on Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon, during the Holiday Farmers’ Market.

One such celebrity is Lowndes County Sheriff Eddie Hawkins.

“They contacted me and asked me if I would participate in making some goods to be able to sell at the bake sale. … Of course, I’m all about giving back to the community and I think it’s a good thing, so we are going to participate and provide some goods for them to sell,” he said.

Hawkins said that though he doesn’t have the best baking skills, he has help.

“I’m not much of a baker but I have some good help at home,” he said with a laugh. “My wife is a chef and that’s her area of expertise, baking. So, I lean on her a lot for baking tips. We are going to get together this week and make a few goods.”

The GTRHC serves Lowndes, Oktibbeha and Clay Counties. It offers a wide variety of services.

“We really believe that no matter what your financial standing is, or whatever offense you may have, your history, anything like that, we believe that people deserve every opportunity in life,” said Garton. “(They deserve) to at least have employment, to have a dwelling, to have the basic necessities of life like food, shelter, support services. We do all of that. We like to say that we are a partnership with the Cities of Starkville and West Point and Columbus because we are county based.”

The proceeds from the bake sale go toward funding the winter seasons, which are particularly active for the organization.

Hawkins said it is important to support the organization and its efforts.

“I think it’s important that we do what we can to help the people that are homeless,” he said. “We have a homeless population here in Columbus, whether we like to admit it or not. … It’s unfortunate and during these cold times, we want to make sure that they have a safe, warm place to go and the Homeless Coalition always seems to be able to help with that.”

CREAM CHEESE BARS
Recipe courtesy of Sheriff Eddie Hawkins

There’s no better way to conclude your Thanksgiving feast than with one of these cream cheese bars. So, save room for something sweet! These are one of the best and easiest to make desserts and they are always the first to go.

Ingredients:
Crust:
1 box yellow cake mix
1 egg
1 stick melted butter
Cream cheese mixture:
8-ounces cream cheese, softened
2 eggs
16-ounces confectioners’ sugar

Directions:
■ Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
■ Spray a 9-by-13 pan with cooking spray.
■ Crust: Combine cake mix, 1 egg and melted butter in the bowl of a stand mixer, mix for 1 minute or until the mixture comes together to form a dough.
■ Spread the dough in the bottom of the sprayed pan.
■ Cream cheese mixture: Combine 2 eggs, softened cream cheese and
confectioners’ sugar in a stand mixer, mix until smooth.
■ Spread cream cheese mixture on top of crust.
■ Bake at 350 degrees for 35 to 40 minutes or until golden brown.
■ Cool bars on a cooling rack.
■ Cool completely before cutting into bars.

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