By Sherry Koonce

The News staff writer

PORT ACRES — Under blistering July skies a line of glistening antique cars paraded pearlized paint jobs for a good cause Saturday — to raise money for the Port Arthur Recovery Project.

Antique cars and shiny motorcycles competing for best in show were among the day-long list of activities at the Recovery Party-Family Fun Day at the Port Acres Knights of Columbus Hall.

Hosted by the Port Arthur Recovery Project to raise money for repairs to homes damaged by Hurricane Rita, he event was hailed a success in spite of rain and soaring summer temperatures.

“We’ve sold over $1,000 in barbecue plates, Beverly May, SETIO office manager, said.

Since Rita, the Port Arthur Recovery Project has worked under SETIO’s umbrella to make home repairs using grants and donations for materials and volunteer labor for construction.

Created to assist single parents, elderly and disabled and those without insurance or underinsured, The Port Arthur Recovery Project coffers are about depleted, even before all hurricane-damaged homes have been repaired.

Since Hurricane Rita struck the Southeast Texas coast in September 2005, the recovery group has closed 317 cases. Another 142 remain open with 13 currently in the construction phase.

May said Saturday’s fundraiser was a last-ditch effort to raise funds to keep the work going. The Recovery Project could be disbanded in May 2009, she said.

The dire financial forecast did little to interrupt the day of family-fun where motorcyclists and antique cars lined up adjacent to a children’s moon walk.

Curtis and JoAnn Potter, of Port Arthur, brought their pearl-white 1960 Corvette to compete against other antique cars.

Though the sleek American sports car was a head turner, JoAnn Potter said it held special significance for the couple.

“It’s a 1960 model — that’s the year we were married,” she said.