Kilgore Habitat for Humanity fundraiser "Dishin the Dirt"

Charla Rolph and Pam DeCeault show off flyer for fundraiser. Frankenstein and his bride have already sent their RSVPs.

So have Bugs Bunny, Elmer Fudd, Emeril Lagasse and Carmen Miranda, to name a few.

Organizers of the upcoming Kilgore Habitat for Humanity "Dishin' the Dirt" fundraiser on Oct. 25 say just about everybody who's anybody will want to be there, too.

These "celebrities" and more will be waiting tables and raising funds to reach the local chapter's goal of $35,000.

Pam DeCeault and Charla Rolph say each of the celebrities has been responsible for his or her table theme and costume. They add that the waiters and waitresses were also responsible for selling their own table of tickets and they've done an excellent job. Tickets are $50 per person and most have already been sold, but a few are still available by calling Rolph at 903-984-3443.

"It's going to be a blast," De- Ceault said.

The event includes dinner, a cash bar, disc jockey and both silent and live auctions.

They won't say who's coming as who, but they will say this year's Dishin' the Dirt waiters and waitresses are also known as Ronnie Spradlin and Laura McKethon, Larry Woodfin, Kenneth Plunk, David Hedrick, Nina Nichols, Wendy Crim, Phyllis Schleier and Melody Ansley, Nancy Mobley, Cissy Covnet, Dr. Jeff Davis, Dr. Rocco DeSantis and Dimi DeSantis, Dr. Terry Ray and Pat Ray, Tammy Kirkland and Heather Davis, John and Deb Ziegler, Tim Caps and Charles Presley, Janie Edmonds and Pat Boyd, Amanda and Phillip Nobles and Randy Renshaw.

If you want to find out who's coming as what, you just gotta be there.

As for this worthy cause, Habitat for Humanity is not a charity and it's not a giveaway program. The families who are to receive the newly constructed homes work alongside volunteers and must put in at least 350 hours of "sweat equity" toward the construction of the homes. They must also make a down payment and monthly mortgage, so that means they must be employed and have a monthly income sufficient to cover the mortgage, taxes and utilities.

As Habitat homeowners make their payments, the money is returned to the program to fund more homes for more families.

The average cost to build a Habitat home in Kilgore is $35,000, DeCeault said.

The local chapter works throughout the year to raise money and other local civic organizations have at times chipped in.

"It's a great way to help people help themselves," Rolph said.