THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 22, 1995 TAG: 9509200152
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines
When it comes to The Great American Food Fest, bigger is better.
``I think right now we're the largest charitable event in the city,'' said Deputy John Downs, public information officer for the Chesapeake Sheriff's Department. ``We're now in our 16th year, and we're one of the biggest and best in the area, and we're proud of it.''
The effort started out as a small fund-raising effort popularly called ``the sheriff's barbecue.'' It was held at what was then called Cahoon Farms on Cedar Road and attracted about 700 people. This year's event, now billed as the Great American Food Fest to reflect its growing menu, will attract more than 5,000 people from throughout the city and the region.
The larger attendance means that more local people will benefit from the funds that are raised.
The annual gathering of food and beverage aficionados at Chesapeake City Park funds Chesapeake Sheriff John R. Newhart's Elderly Victims' Assistance Program and the many community service projects sponsored by the South Norfolk Ruritans under the leadership of president A.L. ``Red'' Poythress.
``We split the pot,'' Newhart said. ``Each gets half. The South Norfolk Ruritans put their money right back into the community with such things as scholarships, community service programs and helping support such activities as the annual South Norfolk Fourth of July Picnic, the South Norfolk Clean-Up Campaign and other worthwhile projects and causes.''
The other half goes to Newhart's own pet project: helping senior citizens in the city who have been victimized by crime. He said his office helps those lonely, elderly citizens who are preyed upon by thieves, burglars and other criminals. They are people who can't defend themselves and who live substandard lives on meager, fixed incomes.
Newhart said he and his staff go over daily crime reports, identify the elderly victims and investigate each case to make sure there is a need.
``If we find out they only have a small, fixed income we help them the best way we can,'' Newhart said. ``I can tell you this: Our fund has helped replace many things in the community.''
The fund is regularly audited, and those who manage it are very careful as to where the money goes, he said. It spends at least $10,000 to $12,000 every year helping hundreds of elderly victims. In fact, the fund now serves as a model for others around the country.
With the increasing need to help more and more elderly victims of crime, Food Fest organizers are delighted at its growth.
``Little by little, we evolved,'' Newhart said. ``And right at that time the South Norfolk Ruritans had just formed and were looking for a project to latch onto. So we combined forces and have been doing this together since.''
The event grew and moved to the Volvo-Penta property. But soon the fund-raiser outgrew that spot and eventually landed at Chesapeake City Park, off Greenbrier Parkway.
Downs said the location is big enough to hold the event and any additional growth, is easily accessible from the area's interstates and large enough to handle parking.
As the event grew in attendance it also grew in support.
Longtime backers such as Armada Hoffler and Plasser American contribute financial help and support, Downs said, and every year more and more Chesapeake businesses and area restaurants join in.
At the beginning, the event offered the indigenous down-home fare of barbecue with all the trimmings, he explained. Slowly it began to expand its menu to reflect the growing tastes and sophistication of palates in the city.
First, it added clam chowder, then chili and fish until it grew to include prime rib, Scottish trifle, Cajun gumbo, chicken fajitas, baklava and pasta e fagioli soup.
A couple of new restaurants have joined the effort, Downs said.
``We're happy to now include the Lone Star Steakhouse and Fuddrucker's to our fund-raiser,'' Downs said. ``We're happy to have these new kids on the block join us. Tickets are selling like hotcakes. It seems everybody wants to help and enjoy the varieties of foods we have to offer. Once a person buys a ticket and goes through the gate, everything is all-you-can eat.'' by CNB