It’s that time of year again, and it does not include a largeman in a red suit.

The 23rd Annual Junior Auxiliary Peel ‘Em and Eat ‘Em will boilover Thursday at the Brookhaven Recreation Department on Highway51.

“I think it’s the only other time besides parades that thepolice are needed to help organize traffic,” said Lori Carter, JA’sshrimp dinner chairman.

Carter said the organization sold roughly 4,300 shrimp dinnertickets last year and a similar number was expected this year.

Dinner plates, which include 1 pound of shrimp, can be picked upfrom 3:30 until 7 p.m. Thursday. Cookies, cakes and pies can alsobe purchased for an additional cost.

It is not too late to buy tickets, which are $10. Carter said alimited number will be available at the door.

The only difference this year from previous years is the personcooking the 4,400 pounds of Atlantic coast shrimp. After thepassing of Victor Nations and Preston Morris, Timmy Nations stirredthe pot Wednesday after helping his father for numerous years.

The shrimp dinner, which requires 950 work hours to becomeorganized, is the only fundraiser for Junior Auxiliary. Fundsraised are used to help finance various service projects, whichassist in supporting 10,000 Lincoln County citizens, Cartersaid.

Money from this year’s fundraiser will go toward Life Choices,which teaches all school age children about better decision making;Ears, which helps students develop their reading skills; and ChildWelfare, which helps provide area school nurses with supplies andscholarships.

A large portion of the money raised goes toward JA’s Christmasproject, Wish Tree. A committee involved with this project workswith counselors, teachers and social service agencies to develop alist of needy children and obtain Christmas gifts from thecommunity for those less fortunate.

“We are so thankful JA has the opportunity to do this everyyear,” Carter said. “If it wasn’t for the community’s involvement,we wouldn’t be able to help so many members of Lincoln County.”