The Gilmer County Kids Kottage rose over $1200 last weekend for its operational fund at its first ever Benefit Fishing Tournament held at Carter’s Lake on Saturday, December 15th.

The tournament was held for the Gilmer County Kids Kottage, the non-profit supervised visitation center which first opened in May of 2008 and reopened in October of 2011. At the tournament, 25 boats, consisting of over 50 fishermen, competed to raise money for the non-profit visitation center’s operational fund. After competing in the tournament, the fishermen were then thanked with a chance to win door prizes such as a fishing rod from Bargain Barn and gift cards from Walmart.

Currently, the supervised visitation center serves over eight families in Gilmer County and surrounding counties that are either court ordered or assigned through the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS). By serving families in the surrounding counties through a state grant from the Department of Human Services, the center offers supervised visits for parents.

“Our ultimate goal is for reunification of family,”

Gilmer County Kids Kottage Director Lacey Garland said about the visitation center.