As you may had read in our Saturday edition, the Port Arthur Rotary Club will not host the Taste of Gumbo event next year. The annual fundraiser, held every year at the Bob Bowers Civic Center, was a victim of Tropical Storm Harvey flooding, as the Center is still undergoing repairs.

The fundraiser raised thousands for hundreds of people in the area so the loss of the important event will hit hard, especially among those who are most in need. However, the Rotary Club is accepting donations for a raffle through which the group hopes to raise funds for local charities.

We encourage all local businesses to donate something even if it is something small. A membership, a meal or something larger will encourage more people to buy raffle tickets and, in the end, make a difference in a life.

To find out more, please email Debra Pointdexter at 1516dgbb@gmail.com.