Published: October 30, 2009 10:24 am      

Fundraiser to benefit Rainbow Room

The Huntsville Junior Service League will host its first annual “Pistols and Pearls” Barbecue Benefit on Nov. 5 from 6 to 11 p.m.

The event, which will be held at the Walker County Fairgrounds, will feature a barbecue dinner catered by McKenzie’s Barbecue, live entertainment by the Cody Johnson Band, and a silent auction.

All proceeds from the event will go towards supporting the Walker County’s Rainbow Room.

The Rainbow Room is a store-like setting affiliated with Child Protective Services.

It helps provide foster and kinship families with items such as new clothing, bedding, school supplies, shoes and diapers.

The Rainbow Room also serves as an emergency source for CPS caseworkers when a child is removed from a harmful situation.

“Walker County has anywhere between 50 to 80 children a month in protective custody,” said JSL President Angela Lyons. “Of those children, 20 to 30 are in kinship care (staying with aunts, uncles, grandparents, etc.) and they are not eligible for state support like a foster family.”

Proceeds from the benefit will also go towards the Junior Service League’s annual scholarship fund.

“Every year we give a scholarship to a high school senior woman who is going to go to Sam Houston State University,” said the Junior Service League Ways and Means Chair Nicole Clark.

The Junior Service League of Huntsville has been giving out its Outstanding Senior Scholarship award since 1986, according to Clark.

The Junior Service League of Huntsville, which was founded in 1976, is an organization composed of 30 members who promote service, education and charity in the community.

“We provide meals for the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), we mentor in schools, and we also help work the admissions area at the Walker County fair,” Clark said.

So far, JSL has sold nearly 200 tickets to the event.

“We are hoping for 250 or 300 people at the event,” Clark said.

Tickets may be purchased at Cavender’s or Bearkat Books anytime before Nov. 5.

“We would like people to buy their tickets in advance so we are able to order enough food,” Clark said.

Tickets are $25 per person or $225 for a table of 10.

JSL officials are also looking for more sponsors. Contributions are tax-deductible.

“We are so excited to be raising money and awareness for such a worth-while organization,” Lyons said.

For more information, contact Angela Lyons at (936) 436-9172.

For more information on Texas Rainbow Rooms, please visit http://www.gtcp.org/.