pig roast nets big community support

Pig Roast festivities over two days at St. Joseph the Carpenter Episcopal Church have netted plenty of community goodwill as well as about $3,300 for the church to share with five local charities.

Sales of freshly barbecued pork lunches went well on both days, organizers said. They are particularly pleased with the barbecued pork lunches sold on what was billed as Fabulous Friday, the day before the Oct. 20 Pig Roast. Friday sales "pretty much doubled what we did last year," said Pig Roast Chairman Coby Harper.

Over the two days, church members barbecued and sold 700 pounds of pork, up from 530 pounds last year. On Friday alone, they sold more than 600 sandwiches, mainly to businesses. Some people also bought whole butts of the meat, and planners are discussing advertising the sale of bulk pork next year.

Last week, organizers met to discuss this year's events and to consider changes for next year's roast. The decade-old annual event takes place on church grounds on the third Saturday of October. They decided the barbecued pork recipe does not need changing, as it has been refined over the years.

"Next year we're going to take it up a notch," Harper said. "It's getting bigger and bigger. We're going for a thousand pounds" of pork.

The church will share the proceeds with Mountain Hope Good Shepherd Medical Clinic, Sevier County Head Start, Smoky Mountain Area Rescue Ministries, SafeSpace and Sevier County Food Ministries.

"We love working with groups that are interested in us," said Elaine Miller of Mountain Hope. "I look at it not just a fund-raiser but a friend-raiser." The Friday lunches were distributed from the clinic. Miller said it is good for the community to see non-profits pulling together for a common goal.

Organizers appreciate the involvement of the non-profits and the public, Harper said.