
Camp Habitat’s Second Annual Pioneer Day Bean and Cornbread Cook-Off
The Camp County affiliate of Habitat for Humanity and their volunteers will be setting up the Chuck Wagon and serving up beans and cornbread and a cup of tea during Pioneer Day, this Saturday. The local affiliate is holding this competition to celebrate all those courageous pioneers who traveled across this great country fueled by lots of beans and cornbread to find a new home.
For $5, the public will get to vote for “Top Chef” to determine who will get the trophy and hold the bragging rights for cooking up beans that blow away the competition and for making the yummiest cornbread .that melts in your mouth. There will be a Collegiate Cornbread competition among Northeast Texas Community College’s Culinary Students so the public is invited to come and see what our region’s future chefs will be cooking up. Friends, family, and the public are encouraged to support their favorite local chefs.
The pioneer theme will be carried over into two raffles: a beautiful cedar chest and a colorful lap quilt. The Hollinquest’s of East Texas Hardwood donated the cedar and some of the handiwork for the chest which Board Member Gary Pearson completed. Volunteer Carol Wendleburger generously gave the lap quilt. The affiliate’s fundraising Gala on Saturday (Oct 22) is the date for the two raffle drawings. The Ruby Slippers Gala: ”There’s No Place Like Home!” is Saturday (Oct 22) from 7:00 pm to midnight at the Douglass Community Center. The band DoctorDoctor will perform. Several local wineries will be present offering wine tasting and bottle sales. Gene Baxter, Secretary of the affiliate, says that there will be lots of useful items in the Silent Auction from local businesses and artisans like Pizza Inn, Golden Needle, Daily Grind, Mike D’s, Treasured Moments, and Mane Attractions. Tickets are $35/couple or $20 for an individual and will be available at the Chuckwagon.
The affiliate’s Vice President and Building and site Committee Chair, Scottie Traylor, is excited about the new house that is now underway for the family of Nicole Guel on the corner of Henderson and Second Streets just off Highway 271. Ms. Guel and her family will complete 400 hours of “sweat equity” instead of a down payment on the home that will be financed by the affiliate at 0% interest. Several community businesses have donated services or significantly reduced rates to prepare the site such as Chris McGahee of Bull’s Construction, Corey Leonard of Leonard’s Tree Service, Jackie Howell of H&H Electric, B&S Supply, and Lowes.
Community support has been incredible according to Van Rosenau, a Habitat volunteer on the Fundraising Committee. He and other members of the Committee have been out canvassing local businesses for event sponsorship and building funds. Spring Hill Church, Germania Insurance, Pittsburg Insurance, Green Motors, Camp County Title have generously contributed to the new build.
According to the affiliate’s President, Mary Carter Lloyd, “Our mission is to show God’s love in our community by striving to create a better human habitat in which to live & work.” Camp Habitat’s other activities include community projects such as painting and installing walls for the Douglass Community Center and home improvement projects such as installing ramps and making accessibility improvements for seven local physically challenged homeowners. Including the Guels, five Pittsburg families have partnered with Camp Habitat in building a home of their own since the organization started here in Camp County. All funds raised will go to support these Habitat programs in Camp County.
According to Board member Markeyla Bolton, there is always room in the organization for more people dedicated to working to better our community! For more information call Linda Baxter, Executive Director, at 903-767-2306 or email them at [email protected].