Annual barbecue back on for 2016
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on February 28, 2016 1:45 AM
The Salvation Army's annual barbecue luncheon is back in 2016.
The event has been a staple in Goldsboro for many years, but in 2015 it was not held.
The barbecue luncheon is a project of the Salvation Army's Women's Auxiliary.
"We didn't do it last year," said Lt. Sherrie Stokes with the Salvation Army. "Our auxiliary president was diagnosed with cancer and had to step down. Finding a replacement for the vice president to step up to the president's position took a little time.
"But after having right many people in the community ask why we were not doing the barbecue, we decided to have it this year. I think people look forward to that every year."
Mrs. Stokes said the goal is to sell 1,000 plates this year, available at the Salvation Army now.
Tickets are $8 each, which includes barbecue, potato salad, slaw, hush puppies and cake.
The luncheon is eat-in, take-out or delivery for orders of 10 or more. For delivery, call Mrs. Stokes at 919-735-4811 or Mary Lou Jones at 919-221-6101.
The barbecue luncheon will be held March 17, from 11:15 a.m. to 2 p.m.
"This is one of our biggest fundraisers for the women's auxiliary of the year," Mrs. Stokes said.
Proceeds from the barbecue luncheon will be used to send local children to the Salvation Army's Camp Walter Johnson in Denton for ages 6 through 17. The week-long camp costs $100 per child.
"We're hoping this year to reach within our social services database to send some of those at-risk children to have camp experience that they more than likely wouldn't have without the community's help," Mrs. Stokes said.
"While they're there, they get Christian devotions. They get full meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner, with snacks in between. They have games. They have lessons. There's a lot of one-on-one attention. We have a huge swimming pool with certified lifeguards on staff. If they don't know how to swim, they can be taught how to swim while they're there. They go fishing. There are paddle boats on a pond. There's a putt-putt course and a ropes course. There are pedal carts. There is a soccer field and basketball courts."
Mrs. Stokes said the biggest thing is getting the children to be able to focus on Christ during the week-long camp.
The barbecue luncheon is just one of several projects the women's auxiliary has during the year. Its members also do the Angel Tree for Christmas, which provides Christmas for more than 400 children in Wayne and Sampson counties. Auxiliary members make all the decisions about how the program operates, help with the application process, put up flyers, put up the Angel Tress and help during distribution day.
Each fall, the auxiliary members have a yard sale to raise money to send children to camp. Members donate items, help get others to donate items, set up tables the day of the sale and help out in other ways.
"The women's auxiliary really focuses on service work," Mrs. Stokes said. "They make decisions for the betterment of the Salvation Army within its community. They use their community contacts to help the Salvation Army."
But the auxiliary needs new members. It meets the third Thursday of each month, except for June and July.
"A lot of our ladies are getting older, so we need new blood," Mrs. Stokes said. "We need some young ones to come in and help. The women's auxiliary members are change makers. Their heart is always at the mission of the Salvation Army."
Any woman 18 or older may join the Salvation Army women's auxiliary by calling Mrs. Stokes or Mrs. Jones.