Local "celebrities" and community members alike packed LongHorn Steakhouse on Friday as Family Connection of Dawson County held its sixth annual Celebrity Waiter breakfast.

Nearly a dozen "celebrity" waiters poured coffee, cleaned spills and cleared plates during the organization's lone fundraiser of the year.

"This year, all of the profits will go toward our new focus on child sexual abuse prevention, Stewards of Children," said Nancy Stites, director of Family Connection. "The money raised here goes to the different programs that we head to help families succeed."

Part of a statewide collaborative of community initiatives, Family Connection brings community partners together to develop, implement and evaluate plans that address the serious challenges facing local children and families.

"This is my third year being a waiter," said Doris Cook, who was representing the local board of education. "I've always been here to support Family Connection. This breakfast brings a good message about what Family Connection does for the community."

The "celebrity" wait staff also included county commissioners, city council members, state leaders and a variety of volunteers from numerous service organizations.

"We want people to be aware of Family Connection and the need to strengthen our families and children in our community," Stites said. "I think this is good way to sit and come together as a community."

Customers seemed to agree, as they packed the restaurant.

"This is the second or third year I've come out to support this. Family Connection does fantastic work here," said Marjorie Poss, one of the counselors at the high school.

"Getting the community involved is the most important thing, and that's what Family Connection is all about. They connect the resources to the people that need it. It's the best joint effort that I think we [at the school] do."

More than 200 people attended last year's breakfast, which raised more than $5,200. The funds were then reinvested in the community through various programs that benefit local children.

And while money is still being collected for this year's breakfast, according to Stites, "all the tables were definitely full."