Plans are underway for the 14th annual Brookhaven Animal Rescue League’s celebrity dinner and auction, which will be held in October.

This year’s celebrity is Sarah Thomas, the first female full-time official for the NFL. She’ll be greeting guests at the dinner. The event is Oct. 24 at 6 p.m. at the Lincoln Civic Center.

BARL is a 501(c)3 no-kill animal welfare group that sponsors the care, treatment and well-being of animals in Brookhaven and surrounding areas.

It is a mostly-volunteer organization that depends largely on donations and funds raised at two specific events — the Cat’s Meow rummage sale and the celebrity dinner.

Organizers are looking for sponsors as well as celebrity waiters for the event.

Sponsors can participate in several ways, said BARL secretary Rusty Adcock. There are spots available for “Top Dog,” “Best in Show” and “Pick of the Litter.” Those sponsorships range from $1,000 to $250 and come with advantages based on the package selected. “Top Dog” sponsors get eight tickets to the dinner, eight tickets to the next Cat’s Meow rummage sale, one-year BARL business membership card and a company logo on the BARL website.

Donations are also accepted without sponsorship, Adcock said. All donations are tax deductible.

Items are also needed for the silent and live auctions.

Thomas won’t be the only one there with “celebrity” status. BARL is currently lining up the celebrity waiters for the dinner.

Anyone who wants to volunteer to be a waiter, purchase tickets, become a sponsor or donate an auction item should contact Deana Pendley at 601-720-1505 or deanapendley@gmail.com or Julie Montalvo at 601-757-1057 or juliemontalvo@icloud.com.

Advance tickets are $25 and must be pre-purchased due to limited seating. Tickets are available by contacting Montalvo or Pendly or any BARL volunteer. Celebrity waiters and BARL board members are also selling tickets.

Celebrity waiters, who are area merchants and community leaders, will have their tables decorated in a theme to match their costumes, and each table will have a tip jar waiting to be filled with money from guests.

While guests dine at the buffet, a professional auctioneer will lead the live auction.  A silent auction also takes place throughout the evening.