Celebrated chef Kathy Starr will cook up an array of tempting foods for an upcoming festive fundraising event, the “Community Smorgasbord,” at Christ Our Hope Church. The event is set for Sunday, Nov. 12, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. The church is located at 1786 Wellborn Road.

Starr, a Christ Our Hope parishioner, is the author of “The Soul of Southern Cooking,” which features hundreds of recipes that have been in her family for more than 142 years. The book, which received acclaim in The New York Times, also targets working families and includes quick and easy southern cuisine dishes.

“The Community Smorgasbord will be an afternoon of fun, food and fellowship,” said Christ Our Hope pastor Father Guyma Noel, adding that the planning committee anticipates about 2,000 attendees.

“Our goal is to promote family unity, community unity and stewardship while raising much needed funds for the church’s charitable and outreach programs.”

Father Noel has been pastor of Christ our Hope since last year, when he began to build a foundation to expand the church’s services and ministries. Most of the benevolence recipients are non-Catholics who live in Lithonia and surrounding DeKalb County neighborhoods, said the pastor.

In addition to worship services, the church serves the community with educational and counseling programs, as well as charitable distributions of food, clothing and other necessities.

“This event will put the parish in a position to do more,” says Denis Ishmael, Community Smorgasbord chairman. “So, we invite everyone to come out and enjoy the good cooking that Kathy Starr and her catering service will provide.”

Tickets are $10 per person. Signed copies of Starr’s book will be available at the event on November 12.