The "Helping Hands for Callie" committee decided to host a shrimp dinner on Friday, Nov. 20, hoping that the money raised will help offset costs for her stay at Shepherd's Center in Georgia, where she continues her fight, area residents said.
"This is our way of trying to help them," said Brenda Sasser, a long-time friend of the family. "That's the reason we're trying to help them, so they don't quite have so much to worry about."
The Brookhaven Academy community has held some fundraisers and rallied prayer support, Sasser said, and the people of the Enterprise community have banded together as well. In recent years they have done several fundraisers for people in need. They are mustering up support for Cole, because she is one of their own.
Sasser said there are new procedures that could make the difference for Cole if anything can.
"There's a new drug that, the way I understand it, that if she's ever going to wake up this will wake her up," she said. "So she's going to Atlanta to get the drug, she and Frances will be there for six weeks."
The event, which will feature gospel singing, a silent auction, and a cutlery display, will take place at the Lincoln Center, Sasser said. People can buy tickets in advance for boiled shrimp plates. "Helping Hands for Callie" members said it would help if people buy their tickets as early as possible so that there will be a count of how many plates need to be made.
Plates can be picked up from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sasser said, and can be bought any time in the meantime from a committee member.
Anyone interested in a shrimp plate or in volunteering help or donations for Cole can call Sara Nelson at (601) 833-8337, Cydnee Russell at (601) 734-2534, or Cheri Lou Altman at (601) 734-6361.

