The second annual Meat in the Street event saw a huge turnout on Saturday, June 22.
Raising funds for the Aldergrove Starfish Backpack program, the event featured four professional barbecue pitmasters serving pulled pork sliders, a live DJ, local craft beer, and lemonade and treats donated by local businesses.
The Starfish program is run by Rotary and serving four Aldergrove schools, explained local realtor Emma Stewart, co-host of the event with Veronica Cave from Veronica's Gourmet Perogies.
"We're excited to see everybody out. All proceeds go to the Aldergrove Starfish Backpack program, which is a cause very close to our hearts," Stewart said.
Those backpacks are sent home weekly during the school year on Friday afternoons, to kids who may not be getting enough food at home. They’re packed with food that the kids, and their families, will benefit from.
Through a partnership with Meals on Wheels in Aldergrove, Starfish families can pick up their weekly packs during the summer break too, Stewart added.
Putting the packs together is a volunteer effort. Students at Aldergrove Community Secondary in the hairstyle program work with Rotary volunteers weekly to pack everything up.
The food comes from Otter Co-op and Save-On-Foods.
It's not a cheap program, costing $60,000 to run in 2023, which is why Stewart and Cave joined forces to hold the Meat in the Street fundraiser to support the program.
Total funds raised were still being calculated by press time, but Stewart said attendance doubled from last year's event, with 862 sandwich tickets sold.
Double D BBQ was the pitmaster winner by people's choice, and runner ups were Smokin' Gobblers and Big Dog BBQ.
