Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church retiring beloved annual barbecue fundraiser

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — A Charlotte church barbecue fundraiser that’s been put on every year for nearly a century won’t be happening this year.

The Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church BBQ has taken place on the last Thursday in October for 93 years.

“We loved every minute of it,” said Bill Wood, who’s been the event’s co-chair for 17 years. “All good things must come to an end.”

The long-running fundraiser was a place for food, for fellowship, and for politics.

Wood says politicians usually showed up because it was an opportunity to meet people and talk.

“Dan Quayle was here one year,” he said. “The politicians seemed to always be fun, playful and everything. There are not nearly so many here as there used to be because of the internet and all that kind of stuff.”

The event’s focus on the church and its missions never wavered.

Last year, Wood says half the money raised went to Hurricane Helene relief.

Preparing for the event was a nearly two-week job.

Wood says last year they made 8,000 barbecue sandwiches with 14,000 pounds of meat, 2 tons of slaw and 1,500 gallons of stew.

He says one of the reasons they’re ending the Mallard Creek BBQ is because several key leaders retired this year.

“Times are changing, the demographics are changing, the church is changing,” Wood said.

He says his biggest disappointment is feeling like they’re letting the community down.

“It’s sort of like when your kid says, ‘I love you, but I got to go to school today,'” Wood said. “Oh, now I miss you because you’re not here.”

But the north Charlotte church isn’t going anywhere. Wood says they’ll find a way to keep raising money.

“We’ll keep going,” he said. “We got a lot of great people there. We hope and pray that the Lord is looking after us.”