By STEVEN CALHOUN/Staff Writer

Raleigh’s Place will hold a fundraising event Oct. 20 from 6-8 p.m. at Jefferson State Community College in Clanton.

The local foster home and camp is raising funds to finish its dining facility, where it will feed the foster children it hosts.

The event will raise funds with a silent auction, raffle tickets and a giving tree. Guests can eat hors d’oeuvres from winter, spring, summer and fall at the “Celebrate the Seasons” event.

Everyone is invited to attend the fundraiser, and Co-founder Sharon King believes the event will be a time for people to become more personally familiar with what Raleigh’s Place does and its mission as a Christian organization.

King shared that the annual summer camp is growing. More than 100 kids participated in the camp last year, and 16 foster children currently live in the three homes associated with Raleigh’s Place.

Two houses are on the property, and one is very close by. The foster parents in the homes on the property are given the place to live and are required to help with Raleigh’s Place events, including the summer camp.

King said the households have full time jobs outside of the mission and serve at Raleigh’s Place on top of making their living.

“God’s been gracious to us and we’ve been able to support ourselves,” said King. “Everyone here and everyone on our board has given to Raleigh’s Place.”

The heart of the mission is providing a place for children in the foster system and breaking the cycle for those who come from generations of foster children, according to King.

She believes that every person can do their part, even if they aren’t foster parents or working for an organization like Raleigh’s Place.

“We’re all given the command to care for the fatherless,” said King. “Each one of us in the body of Christ is mandated to.”