Members of St. Mark Lutheran Church present a $7,000 donation from the church’s 100th Anniversary Chicken BBQ to representatives of the FISH Food Closet. Pictured front row, from left: Sharon Barnes, Jeanne Roy, Joyce Haag, and Rev. Brad Urlaub. Back row: Carl Gurnett, Sister McClean, Richard Krause, and Carolyn Krause. Photo provided by Brad Urlaub
Despite a rainy day in Mendon, community support remained strong as St. Mark Lutheran Church celebrated the 100th anniversary of its Chicken BBQ by raising $7,000 for the FISH Food Closet.
The milestone event, held April 25 at the Mendon Fire Hall, was part of the congregation’s ongoing 125th anniversary celebration. In recognition of the historic occasion, St. Mark chose to dedicate all proceeds from the BBQ to helping local families in need through the FISH Food Closet, which serves residents in Honeoye Falls, Mendon, and West Bloomfield.
To maximize the impact of the fundraiser, all food for the Chicken BBQ was underwritten by St. Mark Lutheran Church, allowing every dollar raised from meal sales to go directly to FISH.
“We wanted this anniversary event to be more than a celebration of the past,” said Rev. Brad Urlaub, pastor of St. Mark Lutheran Church. “God has blessed our congregation for many years, and we wanted to share that blessing with the community by supporting neighbors in need.”
Originally begun in 1926 as a chicken dinner hosted by the church’s Ladies Aid Society, the meal has become a longstanding tradition in the Mendon community and continues to draw support from residents throughout the area.
“Even with the rain, people came out to support the event, volunteer, and celebrate together,” Urlaub said. “We are deeply thankful for the generosity of this community and grateful that this tradition could help make a difference for local families.”
More information about St. Mark Lutheran Church and its 125th anniversary events can be found on the church’s website: www.stmarkmendon.org
More information about FISH Food Closet and how you can volunteer can be found on their website: hffishfoodcloset.weebly.com
