Residents of the Magnolia House assisted living facility in Natchez are putting their talents in the kitchen to work to raise money and awareness for good cause. Several months ago, the women of Magnolia House decided to compile their favorite recipes and publish a cookbook for sale to the community. &uot;Grandma’s Favorites: Recipes from the Residents of Magnolia House&uot; will be available in March and will include such time-tested Southern recipes as chicken dumplings and pound cake.

But when the question arose of what to do with proceeds from the cookbook, Doris Rhodes, a resident at the time, thought she had the perfect answer, and the other women quickly agreed.

Britni Welch, the 18-year-old daughter of Magnolia House activities director Lisa Welch, suffers from a rare neurological disorder called alternating hemiplegia of childhood.

Fewer than 100 children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with AHC, though many children may be misdiagnosed with epilepsy or other seizure disorders because the symptoms are so similar.

Both the cause and the cure for AHC are unknown at this time, but recent research shows there might be a genetic connection.

&uot;We all love Britni, so rather than give ourselves a party, we decided to help her,&uot; Rhodes said.

Proceeds from the sale of the 300 cookbooks will go to the International Foundation of Alternating Hemiplegia of Childhood, which depends on personal contributions to create awareness and fund research of the disorder.

Britni, a student at Natchez High School, often visits the residents between school and her job next door at Li’l Angels Childcare and Learning Center.

&uot;She always has such as sweet smile on her face, and her mother is sweet, too,&uot; Rhodes said.

Residents say their appreciate their activities director of eight years, and the feeling is mutual.

&uot;They don’t love me anymore than I love them,&uot; Lisa Welch said.

Welch said she hopes the cookbook will help people in the community learn about alternating hemiplegia and perhaps even lead to the correct diagnosis of children who may be suffering from it.