Firefighters, law enforcement officers and emergency medical employees are invited to a free barbeque lunch on Friday, April 22, provided by Screaming Eagle Grill and Gerding Enterprises Inc. in Dittmer.
“We’re just wanting to give back to our heroes,” said Chuck Gerding, owner of Screaming Eagle Grill and Gerding Enterprises Inc.
The event is set for 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at High Ridge Fire Protection District’s House 1, 2842 High Ridge Blvd.
This is the third year in a row Gerding has organized the lunch, and Gerding said the turnout has grown.
“We almost doubled in size last year. We were feeding around 200 people (last year),” he said.
This year, the barbeque will offer pork steaks, pork steak burgers and all beef hotdogs, plus the addition of half chicken. Baked beans, coleslaw, macaroni and cheese, and potato salad will be available for sides, along with soft drinks and bottled water.
“We hope everybody can make it out and enjoy the meal,” said Gerding. “We look forward to seeing them.”
In the fall, Gerding plans to sponsor his seventh annual barbeque fundraiser to benefit the BackStoppers organization, which provides support to families of first responders who are killed or severely injured in the line of duty.
The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to dark Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Big River VFW, 1 Lynn Lane, in Cedar Hill. Festivities are set to end with a fireworks display.