By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support local journalism.
Celebrity Waiter event serves up fun
7 Celebrity Waiter pic2
“Steady, steady,” Dawson County School Superintendent Keith Porter tells himself as he delivers hot coffee during Friday’s Celebrity Waiter breakfast to benefit Family Connection. - photo by Michele Hester Dawson Community News

Fourteen local “celebrities” traded their business suits and briefcases for aprons and serving trays last week to raise more than $3,000 during the second annual Dawson County Family Connection Celebrity Waiter breakfast.

  

If the waiters and waitresses at Longhorn Steakhouse seemed a bit frazzled and out of their element Friday morning, now you know why.

  

“Don’t quit your day job,” one customer laughed playfully as his waiter dropped a full glass of orange juice.

  

Nancy Stites, director of Family Connection, said it didn’t matter how many glasses were dropped, or coffee pots busted, or the fact that some of the servers couldn’t find the silverware.

  

“It was such a great time. We all had so much fun. What a great surprise that we had so many people waiting at the door when we opened,” she said.

  

More than 200 diners attended the breakfast, which featured celebrity waiters such as,  Commission Chair Mike Berg, City Administrator Kim Cornelison, School Superintendent Keith Porter and Coroner Ted Bearden.

  

With a buffet-style breakfast of biscuits, eggs, bacon and sausage, the celebrity waiters juggled the tasks of taking and delivering drink orders, clearing plates and resetting the tables.

  

“I went from ‘Chairman’ to ‘Hey you,’” said Berg, who had never served people except at last year’s inaugural breakfast. “It’s a whole heck of a lot harder than anyone that has not served could ever imagine.”

  

With all kidding aside, Berg, who also serves on the Family Connection board, said he was honored to participate in the breakfast, which gave him the opportunity to talk about Family Connection and its work in the community.

  

“I got to tell several people what Family Connection is all about and that’s as good as having a fundraiser to let people know what they are doing in this community,” Berg said.

  

Part of a statewide initiative of community collaborative partnerships, Dawson County Family Connection brings together community partners to help address the challenges facing children and families.

  

Among the local nonprofit’s programs are the meth task force, church alliance and prevent child abuse.

  

Cornelison said the organization is “a tremendous service to the community.”

  

“Family Connection provides so much information and so many resources to help community members help themselves,” she said.