The 18th year of OPP Charity Barbecues is about to kick off. The first event is set for next Thursday, July 12, from 11:30am to 1:00pm. The barbecues are held every Thursday at the Kemptville OPP Detachment throughout the summer. The barbecues have brought in over $100,000 for local charities to date. In the past, the OPP ran barbecues to raise money for the Special Olympics and then for the Kemptville District Hospital. Constable Cathy Lindsey says that’s where it all started.
Next week’s barbecue is sponsored by Tackaberry G & Sons Construction and benefits the Kemptville Youth Centre. This year’s events will also benefit North Grenville Accessible Transportation, Community Living, Easter Seals, Friends of the Library, Friends of the Ferguson Forest Centre, the hospital and People First. Lindsey says community support has made the barbecues successful.
The barbecues run until the end of August. If events are cancelled due to weather, they will be rescheduled into September. The OPP also runs a Charity Barbecue the first week of December every year in support of the Salvation Army Christmas Campaign.