Bowties and Beignets

Harrison County is home to the most child abuse and neglect cases in the state. This year’s number of cases is expected to top those reported in 2017.

News 25’s Toni Miles takes us to the Island View Casino in Gulfport to show how hundreds of people teamed up this morning, using bowties and beignets to parlay into money to help abused and neglected children in the area.

Sprinkled in confectioner’s sugar, some tied up in knots, and others not so much, people from all walks of life joined together for one common cause, raising money for abused and neglected children in the area during the annual Bowties and Beignets fundraiser at the Island View Casino.

The idea unraveled over a much smaller breakfast several years ago between Chad Riemann of Riemann Funeral Homes and Gulfport Councilman R. Lee Flowers. “Chad and I both like wearing bow ties, so we thought we’d get a few guys together who like to wear bow ties to throw a couple of dollars on the table, and give it to a worthy event dealing with children, well, it kind of blew up a little bigger than that,” said Flowers.

The event continues to expand, as evidenced at this third annual fundraiser Friday morning. “The past two times we’ve hosted this event, R. Lee has had someone design a special bow tie and have it made for it. This year, we didn’t have a design special, but we had them locally made by hand. There’s lady, named Jennifer Fox, who made all 200 of them for us, and we’re really thankful for that,” said Riemann.

This year, money raised will also be used to help the South Mississippi Child Advocacy Center which will come in handy consider the 8,181 child abuse and neglect cases reported in Harrison County in 2017. Harrison County Youth Court Judge Margaret Alfonso said, “The Child Advocacy Center, I think, a lot of it this year is going to be dedicated to their forensic interviewing program. They do forensic interviews of children for law enforcement as well as youth court.”

The South Mississippi Child Advocacy Center services children in Harrison, Jackson, and George counties. Over the past two years, more than $45,000 has been raised through this sweet event, paving the way for a new rubber sidewalk at the Harrison County Children’s Shelter, new bedding, and much more. This is all to help local children find some comfort as they look for hope in light of the abuse and neglect they’ve faced so young in life.