People dinned and placed bids for a good cause Sunday during the Rotary Club of Franklinton’s Food Fest and Auction.

During the June 1 event, held at the 1010 Club in Franklinton, local restaurants operated booths featuring some of their most popular dishes and menu items.

Attendees also had the chance to bid on a wide variety of offerings in the silent auction.

The called auction drew a great deal of interest, as well, with number paddles flashing up and down throughout the event.

This was the club’s ninth annual Food Fest and Auction, and Betty Gill, executive secretary and treasurer, said it was a success thanks to the support of the community.

“We couldn’t do it without all our local businesses and individuals that, through their generosity, help make it a success,” she said.

She also expressed her appreciation to 1010 Club owners Joe and Becky Yaeger for their generosity in providing the use of the building.

Gill said the money raised through the Food Fest goes toward funding 10 Rotary projects on the local and national levels throughout the year.

She said the first project is the presentation of two $1,000 academic achievement scholarships for local seniors. The annual scholarships are awarded to a Franklinton High senior and a Bowling Green senior to help them further their education, she said.

Through Paul Harris Fellow funds, the club contributes to an international initiative of eradicating polio. Franklinton Rotary makes donations to local service organizations on an annual basis, as well.

Each summer, the club sends two students, one from Franklinton High and one from Bowling Green, to Rotary Youth Leadership camp. The Rotarians also sponsor one local youth’s attendance at Legion Boys and Girls State, held each year in Baton Rouge.

In two literacy projects, the club gives dictionaries each year to all the third-grade students in the Washington Parish School System and at Bowling Green, for a total of about 500 students, and has each of its guest speakers sign books that are donated to Head Start.

Franklinton Rotary also makes a donation to the Washington Parish Junior Livestock Show and is a member of the Franklinton Chamber of Commerce.

Finally, Gill said the club recognizes a Police Officer of the Year and Firefighter of the Year, presenting each with a plaque and monetary donation.

Gill said it takes lot of work and many Rotarian man hours to make the Food Fest happen, but members are always eager to do their part.

“That’s what Rotary’s all about — service above self,” she said.