Area residents will once again have the opportunity to dine and be waited on by celebrities, at the Brookhaven Animal Rescue League’s 10th Annual Celebrity Dinner and Auction coming up Tuesday, Oct. 22, at the Lincoln Civic Center.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m., with the event beginning at 6 p.m.

The celebrity waiters, played by local business people and community dressed in costume, will entertain guests at their decorated tables as they raise tips for the animals.

A silent auction will take place throughout the evening, and a live auction with a professional auctioneer will round out the night’s activities. Guests will be served a dinner with a Southern flair before the live auction begins.

“BARL has an unbelievable live and silent auction. The businesses really support us and donate a lot of items for the auctions. We have something for everyone’s budget, and it is a great time to buy gifts for Christmas. We, of course, hope people will bid up since it is a fund-raiser for the animals,” said Rusty Adcock, BARL board member.

Auction items will include artwork and pottery by Mississippi artists such as Dr. Scott Jennings, DVM, with Syntropy Creations, and the one-of-a-kind duck and turkey calls by Homochitto Hollow Woodworks are always popular.

Other auction items include a Duck’s Unlimited print, a Vera Bradley lunch box, and a beauty bag, utility tote and suite success tote by Thirty-One.

Many businesses have donated gift certificates for services such as oil changes, massages and hair cuts; and an item likely to be a hit is the certificate for free car washes for a year from Valvoline Instant Oil Change.

In addition, a variety of home décor items will be part of both the silent and live auction.

Tickets are $25 and due to limited seating, must be purchased before the night of the event. Tickets are available at Engravables or First Bank. Anyone interested in having their tickets mailed to them can email info@barl.net or call Lu Becker at (601) 754-2000.

The “Best in Show” sponsors include Animal Medical Center, Bank of Franklin, Brookhaven Animal Hospital, C Spire Wireless, and Dynamics Marine.

Businesses signed up as “Pick of the Litter” sponsors include Belk-Ditcharo Dental, Boerner Law Firm, Cracker Barrel Barbeque, First Bank, King’s Daughters Medical Center, and Franklin Telephone.

Others serving as sponsors are Larkin Veterinary Clinic, Lincoln Civic Center, and McGehee McGehee and Torrey.

BARL volunteers are currently seeking sponsorships gathering items for the auctions, and finalizing the waiter list.

“We never know what costumes the waiters will wear. It’s fun to see what they come up with,” said Adcock.

A few of the waiters signed up to date include Coney Lea, Sherri Mathis, Sarah Underwood, Dr. Ray Montalvo and Dr. Ryan Case.

Volunteers are needed to help with the fund-raiser, both pre-event and during the event. Anyone needing information about volunteering for the Celebrity Dinner should call BARL at (601)757-4367 or Lu Becker at (601)754-2000 or email info@barl.net.

BARL is as a non-profit, limited intake animal welfare group. The volunteer-based organization serves Copiah, Franklin and Lincoln counties. BARL provides food, shelter and veterinary services for abandoned, orphaned and unwanted animals until they are adopted. All BARL animals are vet checked, vaccinated and spayed/neutered. Dogs are also micro-chipped.

Anyone interested in adopting, contributing or volunteering should contact BARL at (601) 757-4367 or info@barl.net. Donations are tax deductible and may be mailed to BARL, P.O. Box 3477, Brookhaven, MS 39603.

Many of BARL’s adoptable animals may be viewed online at www.barl.net.