Lobsterfest raises money for St. Paul’s outreach
Published 5:14 pm Tuesday, October 17, 2017
- Manera Searcy plates lobsters for people dining in at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Lobsterfest last Thursday.
More than 400 lobsters found their way from Maine to Selma last week for one of Selma’s most unique and delicious fundraisers.
St. Paul’s held its annual Lobsterfest, which raises money for outreach program like Little Friends School.
Though final numbers aren’t in from this year’s event, Lobsterfest in the past has raised between $4,000 and $5,000.
The lobsters couldn’t be fresher for central Alabama. They are flown in from Maine alive and cooked on-site at St. Paul’s, where they are plated and then served with sides. The women of St. Paul’s cook pies for dessert.
Shown above volunteering at this year’s Lobsterfest are Richard Burk, St. Paul’s rector Jack Alvey and Bill Gamble.
St. Paul’s rector Jack Alvey said the annual fundraiser is a great way to welcome people to St. Paul’s, including those who attend church elsewhere.
“We have a beautiful space. It’s not just for the members of the church to enjoy but also for the community. This is a great way to invite the community to enjoy our hospitality.
About 425 tickets were sold this year, according to Nancy Travis, who is nicknamed the “Lobster Queen” and helps organize the event. About a third of those were take-out tickets. The rest dined in three different waves at 6, 7 and 8 p.m.
“We’ve got some people here who have never been before, which is great, and they were really excited about it,” Travis said.
Little Friends School operates out of St. Paul’s Gamble House and is a preschool for 60 children ranging in age from six weeks to 4 years old. The preschool’s mission is to offer children “regardless of race, color, or creed an opportunity to grow physically, mentally, emotionally and socially in an environment fostered by Jesus’ command to love as he loves us.”
