By Taylor Holland

The Selma Times-Journal

 

The inaugural Habitat for Humanity Rib-Off will give community members a chance to both cook and taste barbecue while raising funds for the nonprofit organization.

The event, which takes place at the New Orleans Bar and Grill on May 5 beginning at 2 p.m., will feature barbecue plates, drinks, live entertainment and various competitions, including a long-drive contest.

“There used to be a rib-off here every year and they hadn’t done it in a while so we decided to bring it back and do it for a good cause,” said Clay Carmichael, one of four organizers for the event.

For $80, four-person teams can register to participate in the rib-off by visiting habitatriboff.com. On the day of the contest, beginning at 6:30 p.m., teams will be judged for three awards based on their redneck hors d’oeuvres, presentation, creativity and flavor.

Organizers decided that all proceeds raised by the event would be split between the Selma and Tuscaloosa branches of Habitation for Humanity after Carmichael spoke to a family member living in Tuscaloosa about the city’s ongoing recovery process.

“She was telling me there was something like 2,500 families who are still without homes up there, and so that kind of drew my attention, and they’ve got a lot going on,” Carmichael said. “They build a ton of houses every year and I just think we can learn a little bit from them down here about all that. They have a bunch of outsourcing up there that they can do and it’s nice to have people from out of town, if we can, to get money into Selma.”

Nina Capps, executive director for the Selma Habitat for Humanity, said Carmichael, as well as co-organizers Chad Woodruff, Bird Mott and Matt Barnes, approached her about the fundraiser. Capps said she hoped people would come out to the event to support the Selma community.

“When you build a home for someone, it gives them a sense of well being and a sense that they are part of the community,” she said. “Plus, in Tuscaloosa, they’re trying to rebuild a bunch of homes for the people that lost theirs, so it’s kind of a two-fold process. [Attendees are] helping people in surrounding areas of Alabama and they’re helping people in their community.”

General admission tickets to the fundraiser are $25 and are available at the Selma Habitat for Humanity, located at 801 Alabama Ave., as well as through the four organizers. Carmichael said he hoped 200 people would attend the Rib-Off and that it would become an annual event.