By Staff
PREPARING THE FOOD – Lori Berrey, left, executive secretary at Poplar Springs Drive United Methodist Church, and Nancy Crews, ministries coordinator at the church, are two of the many church members preparing food for the church's annual Fall Food Festival set for Saturday. Photo by Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star
By Penny Randall / staff writer
Nov. 6, 2002
Church festivals and bazaars are fall traditions and on Saturday, Poplar Springs Drive United Methodist Church will join the scene when members host their annual Fall Food Festival.
The festival's speciality is slow-roasted hickory barbecue. Plates will be $6 and come with all the trimmings, including baked beans, coleslaw and Mississippi Toast. You can dine-in or carry-out.
This year will be the first that the cooking will take place at the church. Church member James McElroy has overseen the creation of a new on-site barbecue pit behind the church.
The festival, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at the church, will feature almost any type of food. On sale: whole Boston Butts for $20 and such frozen casseroles as sweet potato, hash brown and broccoli and rice.
Other fall food favorites include vegetable beef soup, cornbread dressing and homemade breads. Fourteen pans of cornbread dressing have been prepared with a dozen more being cooked this week.
There's also something for people who love sweets a huge selection of homemade pies, cakes and cookies will be for sale.
The Fall Food Festival began as a way to raise money for an activities building at the church. Crews said the church "wanted a better kitchen, more classrooms and a gym for the children."
The festival has continued over the years as a fund-raiser to support the church's after-school center.
The center serves about 50 children who are picked up by the church van from Poplar Springs Elementary, Parkview Elementary, Magnolia Middle School and Lamar.
Preparations for the Fall Food Festival began weeks ago when 35 to 50 members of the church met to plan the menu.
On Friday, homemade soups and chili will be cooked. And at about 6 a.m. Saturday, members will begin pulling the pork for the barbecue plates.
Crews, who has been a member of the church since 1993, said the festival is great because "so many people come together to make it a success."
FALL FOOD FESTIVAL
What: Poplar Springs Drive United Methodist Church Fall Food Festival.
When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday.
Where: 3937 Poplar Springs Drive.
Call: 485-5598.
Barbecue: Barbecue plates with all the trimmings, $6 each, carry out or dine-in. Delivery available for five or more plates.