Edmundite Missions is getting ready for its third annual community cookout and May festival.

The cookout and festival will be Friday, May 20, at the Center of Hope located on Broad Street from noon – 3p.m.

“We serve the community 365 days a year through the Bosco Nutrition Center and other services that we provide,” said president and CEO Chad McEachern. “With so many of the issues that folks deal with day-in and day-out, it’s just a day where everybody gets to enjoy good food, good music [and] their friends.”

The event will include food, music, raffles and activities for children. There is no entry fee to the event, and all of the food and activities are complimentary, courtesy of the mission.

“We don’t charge for any of our services that are provided here,” McEachern said.

McEachern said the event and services are made possible through nation wide donations.

Last year, more than 1,200 people attended the event. McEachern said people were lining up outside the gate as early as 10 a.m. that morning while the staff was still setting up the grounds.

“It’s growing every year,” McEachern said.

Kona Ice Truck will be serving up frozen treats. Hamburgers and hot dogs will also be available at the event.

Bikes, scooters and other objects will be raffled for children. Oil changes, fans and utility assistance will be raffled to adults.

Like everything else, McEachern said the raffles are also free to participate.

“[It is a] raffle in the sense there is a ticket. We don’t sell them,” McEachern said. “Just come and enjoy and you might win.”

In order to participate in the utility assistance raffle, participants must bring a utility stub. If drawn, the winner will receive assistance up to $200, according to McEachern.

McEachern said although this is the third year the Mission has held the cookout and festival, they have been providing services to the area since 1937.

This year they will be celebrating its 79th anniversary as they enter their 80th year of service.

“It’s a great blessing to be a service to the city of Selma,” McEachern said.