Help fight crime -- eat BBQ.

Crime Stoppers will host its BBQ fundraiser on Nov. 15

By Chuck Thompson | The Shelby Independent

Have you ever wanted to help fight crime by eating BBQ? Now you can – and sign me up, too.

Cleveland County Crime Stoppers is hosting a BBQ fundraiser on Nov. 15.

Since the reboot of Crime Stoppers in Cleveland County in early 2022, the organization has relied mostly on grants from local entities for their funding to pay anonymous tipsters reward money for information that leads to an arrest. The requests for these grants have been and are made by one or two of Crime Stoppers’ Board members. Chairman Jeff Yates noted they will always need grant money from local entities as this money accounts for most of their income.

“However, this current fundraiser has relied on ticket sales that have mainly happened by the work and involvement put in by our entire Board and others who have volunteered to help us sell,” he explained.

Hosted on the grounds of First Presbyterian Church, in Upton Shelby, anyone that purchases a plate of BBQ, by Black Hat BBQ will not only get delicious food, but also be contributing to fighting crime in a small but important way.

Yates explained the ease and excitement by those involved for their tremendous support.

“We reached out to Delton Barnes, a local attorney who does BBQ as a side ‘hobby/job’ known as Black Hat BBQ. I once had the opportunity to try his BBQ and special sauce he makes and knew he was the pit master we needed,” explained Yates. “Mr. Barnes readily agreed and helped in making this happen.”

Yates said they reached out to find sponsors to cover the cost of the event and quickly had all the sponsors they need to make this BBQ event a reality. Shelby Presbyterian Church, Fallston Baptist Church, Settle Heating and Air and three anonymous contributors contributed money and items needed to make this possible.

“Ticket sales have done well,” added Yates. “However, at this point, if anyone is interested in buying tickets, they should contact us at  the following email: stoppers.c@yahoo.com . If there are any left, we will make sure to get them to you!”

For those of you that have already purchased tickets, you can swing by First Presbyterian between 12 – 3 p.m. to pick up your order. Anyone else looking to purchase a BBQ meal, will need to email stoppers.c@yahoo.com to see if any tickets remain and how to pay for your BBQ.

Shelby Presbyterian Church is located at 226 E Graham St., Shelby.

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Chuck Thompson is a reporter and columnist for The Shelby Independent. 

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