By CHRISTINE BOATWRIGHT / Staff Writer

CHELSEA – For more than 30 years, King’s Home has offered hope to those in need. This fall, the community can support King’s Home continue with its mission: To serve Chris by serving youth, women and mothers and children at risk.

Professional Angler Randy Howell, who recently finished the 2012 Bassmaster Elite Series Tour, will attend a meet and greet at Chelsea’s Johnny Ray’s on the evening of Sept. 6.

“He’s such a great guy with a good heart,” King’s Home’s President Lew Burdette said of Howell, who serves as King’s Homes’ spokesman.

For a donation, attendees can enter for a chance to win Howell’s Triton Boats-Mercury Marine tour boat named “Hope II.”

According to Lew Burdette, all profits go to King’s Home. The boat drawing brought in $90,000 of donations last year.

Howell will also make an appearance at the King’s Home 21st annual ShootOut golf tournament at FarmLinks Golf Club in Sylacauga Sept. 25.

The drawing for Howell’s boat will take place at Kampfire for the King Nov. 18. Burdette said the annual event was moved to an earlier date to avoid conflicting with the holidays.

“We want to kick off the holiday season,” Burdette said. “It ought to be a great event.”

Kampfire for the King is a free event at the Christian organization’s Chelsea campus. It offers hayrides, entertainment, a live nativity and a fishing rodeo with Howell.

Burdette said King’s Home and Hannah Home currently houses about 130 youth and women. The program currently has four high school graduates in college, with one who earned a full ride to the University of Alabama at Birmingham, according to Burdette.

“When the come, they don’t even dream about getting good grades,” Burdette said. “The fun part is seeing the other side of that and see when they say, ‘yes, I can do well in school.'”

King’s Home main purpose is to offer hope, Burdette said.

“I know it’s no little girl’s dream to live at King’s Home or Hannah Home,” Burdette said. “We want to see them turn life around and be motivated to do well. It’s amazing to see lives turned around again.”

For more information about upcoming events, visit Kingshome.com.