Saturday barbecue cook-off to benefit local food pantry
By Brandon Davis
Published in News on June 17, 2016 1:46 PM
The Make a Difference Food Pantry will host its first Father's Day Weekend BBQ Competition Cook-off on Saturday at the Wayne County Fairgrounds.
Teams will begin cooking at 7 a.m.
Winners will be announced at 2:30 p.m.
Twelve-year-old Mackenzie Hinson, founder of the Make a Difference Food Pantry, plans to prepare a meals for children in need every Friday at Brogden Middle School this summer, but this weekend is all about Father's Day and grilled food.
Tyson Foods will grill hamburgers and hot dogs before the cook-off and provide chicken and ribs strictly for the barbecue competition. Tyson will also film Hinson's contribution to families this weekend for a two-minute video, to share Hinson's story and inspire other children and adults to help stop hunger.
But Hinson knows it isn't about her at all.
"It's not about me, it's about the food bank," said Hinson, who decided at the age of 6 to feed the hungry.
"(My mother and I) were going down (U.S. Highway) 13, and it was raining," Hinson said. "And I said, 'Mommy, I want to start a food bank.' Since then, it's been one of those things."
Hinson grabbed Tyson's attention in 2015.
The company has committed to recognizing an individual who makes a way for communities to receive food.
Tyson has also pledged $50 million in feeding hungry families for the next five years.
"Last year, we surpassed the 100-million-pound of protein mark, so we've donated over 100 million pounds of protein since the year 2000," said Derek Burleson, who is the public relations manager at Tyson.
"As part of that, last fall, we kind of redid our commitment to hunger relief with the 50 and 5 Campaign."
Lola Stephens-Bell of Austin, Texas received the first Meals that Matter Hero award in January.
The second went to Hinson.