THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 10, 1996 TAG: 9605080134
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
For Chesapeake shrimp lovers, May 14 will signal an annual taste of paradise.
On that day, the Chesapeake Kiwanis Club will hold its annual shrimp festival, the official kick-off to the Chesapeake Jubilee.
For the past 14 years, the festival has been a place where city and area residents have peeled and devoured tons of boiled shrimp.
Last year, seafood lovers ate 1,000 pounds of shrimp.
``This is a true all-you-can-eat affair,'' event Co-Chairman W. Berkley Gibbs said. ``You can load your plate up as many times as you want. We've never run out of shrimp.''
The two-and-a-half-hour feast will also include barbecue, baked beans, cole slaw, hush puppies, soft drinks and beer.
Gibbs said this annual event has become a Chesapeake tradition.
``We have people starting right at 4:30, take a break and eat again at 6:45,'' Gibbs said. ``It doesn't matter to us. That's what the festival is for: to be enjoyed.''
Last year's event helped raise more than $6,000.
``This is one of our club's fund raisers,'' Gibbs said in the release. ``In the past it has really helped the club accomplish its missions and goals in the community.''
All proceeds go to the club's community service projects. Last year, a yearly total of $17,000 was returned to the community.
Chesapeake Kiwanis Club funds were used to benefit Thurgood Marshall Elementary School, Chesapeake Youth Services, Chesapeake Jail Ministry, Chesapeake 4H, Children's Hospitals of the King's Daughters, Adopt-A-Highway, Hope House Foundation, Chesapeake Free Health Clinic, Adopt-A-School, sponsorship of four high school key clubs and five scholarships awards to deserving high school seniors.
The Chesapeake Kiwanis Club has about 50 members and has provided 69 years of community service. It meets at 7 a.m. each Wednesday morning at the Greenbrier Mall Piccadilly Restaurant. Gibbs said new members are always welcome. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Kiwanis members busily cook up shrimp for hungry patrons.
by CNB