HOPE — The 10th Annual Smoke On the Square, which had been rescheduled from May to Aug. 28-29, now has been canceled due the COVID-19 pandemic and the sharp rise in meat costs.
The gathering features teams vying for prestige, cash and other prizes in a barbecue competition featuring pork, ribs, brisket and chicken. About 15 to 20 teams participate each year. The event also has included live music, food, and activities such as a cornhole tournament.
Founder and organizer Jeff Yarnell uses the event to raise money for the Community Center of Hope, where he is a board member. The center serves Flat Rock and Haw Creek townships providing child care, a food bank and other programs. Proceeds come from team entree fees and food sales.
In good weather, the event regularly has attracted more than 1,000 people and generated about $7,000 for the center each year.
“We at the Community Center wanted this very important event to happen and it saddens us to do this,” Yarnell said. “We depend on the funds raised from events like these. This is hard for us. (But) we will come back stronger then ever.”
Yarnell and others are encouraging people to donate to the community center if possible.
He said besides the novel coronavirus and meat prices, he also had a garage fire that damaged his smoker. Plus, securing sponsors has been a challenge with so many businesses hit hard by the statewide shutdown.
“Smoke on the Square and (Hope) Heritage Days (now canceled) are our biggest events, and we will be impacted by this for sure,” Yarnell said.
[sc:pullout-title pullout-title=”How you can help” ][sc:pullout-text-begin]
Smoke On the Square founder and organizer Jeff Yarnell is asking those who are able to consider donating funds to The Community Center of Hope, which benefits financially from his event and also Hope Heritage Days. Both events are now canceled.
Donations can be mailed to: Community Center of Hope, 543 Washington St., Hope IN 47246
[sc:pullout-text-end]
