By Oniska Blevins | The Selma Times-Journal

People will need the luck of the Irish to win one of the raffle items next Saturday at the annual St. Patrick’s Day Benefit hosted by the Tally Ho at 5 p.m.

Paul Wilkerson, owner of the Tally Ho, is continuing the tradition that his father-in-law, Bob Kelly, started more than 30 years ago.

Each year, the restaurant hosts a St. Patrick’s Day themed benefit dinner to raise money for a worthy cause. This year, the recipient is the Dallas County Family Resource Center. All of the proceeds from the ticket raffle and profit from the restaurant from that night will benefit the center.

Wilkerson said the center was chosen this year because it came highly suggested by the community.

“It’s something I know is a great program, and that name was brought up or proposed more than anyone else; so I thought they would be a great fit for being a recipient,” Wilkerson said.

The raffle ticket prices are $1 or $5 depending on the ticket. He said some of the items being raffled off include T-shirts, tumblers, artwork and jewelry. He said local community members and businesses donated the items for the raffle.

“There is always a wide range of items,” Wilkerson said.

He said in the past this event has been a success and people have been happy to help. He said this event is an exciting one for both the community and the staff.

“People come out with a different attitude that night,” he said. “They come out knowing the money is going towards a great cause.”

He said the food will consist of some of the most popular items and will include St. Patrick’s Day themed items as well.

“We’ll have a blended menu that night,” he said. “We’ll have tons of green beer.”

Wilkerson said he hopes to serve over 150 people and hopes this event continues to bring in customers that have never been to the Tally Ho as well as welcome back the repeat customers.