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Friday, March 29, 2024

Church of the Servant Episcopal hosts 31st annual Lobster Fest

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Friends and families in the Wilmington area will unite to share fresh lobsters during the 31st annual Lobster Fest. The event is the primary fundraiser for Church of the Servant Episcopal and will take place June 6, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“Of the proceeds, we allocate 10 percent for outreach programs,” said Lobster Fest coordinator Mary Ames Booker. “Most of our outreach programs center around food and children.”

The church’s outreach programs include volunteer projects at Stop Hunger Now, the Good Shepherd Center and College Park Elementary School.

“Not only do they volunteer — they give food and school supplies,” said Maria Greene, principal of College Park Elementary. “I don’t know what we’d do without them.”

The church’s volunteer programs at College Park are organized by church member Frank Ogden.

“Over the past six years, they have been working under the guidance and leadership of Mr. Frank,” Greene said. “They do whatever we need — end-of-grade test prep, reading, math tutoring. They provide encouragement a lot of students don’t get outside of the school. They give them love — love and attention.”

Volunteers also collect school uniforms for children whose families cannot afford them.

College Park Elementary School’s staff also benefits.

“They do a big luncheon for the staff at the beginning of the year,” Greene said.

Greene said volunteers spend up to 20 hours per week at the school.

“We’ve established a close relationship with the church,” she said. “They’re neighbors we can count on every year.”

Like Greene, Booker has witnessed consistent community support.

“I see the same names every year,” Booker said. Both members and non-members support the event by ordering lobsters, slaw and ears of corn.

A live lobster costs $19 and a cooked lobster costs $21. The deadline for ordering is June 4; however, those who order before May 23 will receive $1 off the cost of each lobster.

Many patrons dine in the church sanctuary.

“We decorate our sanctuary and it becomes a dining hall,” Booker said.

Others choose to dine at home. Delivery is free in New Hanover and Brunswick counties for those who order 10 or more lobsters.

“For many years, there’s been an evening party at Harbor Island,” Booker said.

She hopes this year’s fundraiser will be even more successful than 2014’s.

“Last year, we netted $15,000-17,000,” she said.

After nearly 10 years of helping organize Lobster Fest, Booker is looking forward to the event’s cheerful atmosphere.

“Various families will get together,” she said. “It’s a very festive event.”

To place an order call the Lobster Line at 910-395-3331 or , visit http://cosepiscopal.ecdio.org

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