Area law enforcement officers will be recognized Thursday during the Rotary Club of Valdosta’s second annual Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner.

The dinner is a Rotary Club service project that will allow community members to honor local law enforcement agencies and say “thanks” for their efforts.

Retired Judge H. Arthur “Mac” McLane is to serve as the master of ceremonies for the dinner. Honored attendees include the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office Officer of the Year, Valdosta Police Department Officer of the Year and Lake Park Police Department Officer of the Year.

Seat tickets for the event are $100 each. Tables of 10 can be ordered for $1,000. The funds raised through ticket sales and donations are to be used for an interest-bearing account to help law enforcement personnel and their families in times of special need. Officers with Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, Valdosta Police Department, Lake Park Police Department, Hahira Police Department and Remerton Police Department are eligible for assistance through the fund.

“The Rotary Club of Valdosta is pleased to host this event for its second year,” said Rotary Club President Dr. Carl Cates.

Past President James Dominey is coordinating the dinner and said that it is the first time law enforcement appreciation efforts have been taken to this degree.

“Our mission in hosting this event is to make the community more aware of how important these officers are to us,” Dominey said. “We also hope to get the point across to the officers that the community will be there for them if the need arises.”

Dominey said that local businesses and organizations have been quite supportive of the appreciation dinner.

“A few businesses helped us get started, and they are continuing to contribute,” he said. “This says so much about those businesses since they continue to donate even in this difficult economic situation.”

The Law Enforcement Appreciation Dinner is to be held at the James H. Rainwater Conference Center and begins at 7 p.m. A reception will be held before the dinner at 6 p.m.

To attend the dinner or donate to the law enforcement appreciation fund, send checks to Rotary Law Enforcement Fund, The Rotary Club of Valdosta, P.0. Box 517, Valdosta, GA 31603.