Home of Hope, associated with the Gwinnett Children’s Shelter held its annual fundraiser, Sip and Swine at Coolray field. The event was an opportunity for the Buford community to put their best foot forward and shine. “When you bring together great food, great music and great people for a great cause you can’t go wrong!” This statement, emphatically given by Chris Witmer describing his volunteer time at the Sip & Swine BBQ Festival is hard to disagree with. Not only is the Sip & Swine Festival a delicious, fun-filled event all of the proceeds are generously donated to Home of Hope.
Sip & Swine is a barbeque competition where professionals and amateurs alike can submit their dishes for judging in four different categories. Featuring live music and many other types of food as well as refreshments there is something for everyone.
Chris, the president of North Gwinnett Kiwanis “was honored to help out at the Sip & Swine. It is a great way to contribute to the positive health and welfare of the children in our community.” For those not familiar with Home of Hope it is a non-profit organization which provides not only shelter to children and their single mothers but also a plan to help end the cycle of homelessness for their family.
Also on hand to volunteer were Key Club members from the local area high schools. Key Clubs are Kiwanis founded student-led service programs. As a member of Key Club at Mill Creek High School, Abbie Key is “always looking for a new way to serve the community. Kiwanis Club always sponsors fun events and It is always an enjoyable time.” Abbie and her friend and fellow Key Club member Stella Boston packed BBQ into bags and assisted with clean up.
Volunteering at events such as this allows each Kiwanis member the opportunity to see where help is needed and foster a connection with the local community. Each event helps to build upon the club’s mission to “changing the world, one child and one community at a time.”
To find out more about Kiwanis and the many ways your local club is working to help the children of the Buford Community sit in on a weekly lunch meeting held at noon every Tuesday inside the Buford Community Center. To find out more about “Home of Hope” and next year’s Sip & Swine go to www. homeofhopegcs.org.
By Heidi Pickens
