Well over a hundred or more locals enjoyed a tasteful and talent-filled night at the Local Flavor fundraiser event, hosted by Under One Roof. Chairperson of the Board of Directors for Under One Roof Shryl Hulme and Executive Director of Under One Roof Kim Woodruff both spoke briefly about all the programs they literally had under the one roof at 107 McKinley Ave. in Eufaula for McIntosh County residents.
“We started Under One Roof in the mid 90s because we wanted a youth shelter here, so children could stay in their community if they were removed from their home, and that gave them a way to stay with their support systems, their schools, their extended family and reunifying with their families. It was just really important for us, so we began Under One Roof. But as you can see if you’ve ever been there, it’s an old nursing home building made of cinder blocks and it’s having some serious plumbing issues, hence we needed some fundraiser for repairs.
“However, I want you to know the wonderful things that are happening Under One Roof. We currently have 15 different agencies that are housed there. We call it colocating because we all live there together. They rent office space there, and they’re all family serving organizations, and so they help people with all kinds of resources. Like one thing we help with is homelessness. So when they come in we work to hook them up with resources. Or let’s say someone comes in and they have domestic violence issues, then we can hook them up with other resources, and all of those services are all Under One Roof, which sort of wraps their arms around the people to give them the support that they need.
“One thing that I have always said is we are like “Light Bringers” because when they are without hope, and they feel like they don’t have anywhere to go and they don’t know what to do, we listen and respect them and have compassion for them, and we hold their hands until we get them back on the path. Now what they do with depends on them. But we try to get them on that path so they can find hope again. We love to see the hope in their eyes again because somebody cared enough to show compassion and bring them a light when their path was too dark to see it. That’s’ what Under One Roof is all about.”
Ten vendors brought their “Local Flavor” to the table last Tuesday evening, they included: Mama Tigs – which had dainty and delicious mini cream pies (pumpkin, chocolate and cherry) High Street Coffee – which had amazing apple cider and fresh hot coffee Tumbleweeds – which had tantalizing barbecue, baked beans and tasty bread pudding Dobber’s – which had fabulous fried catfish, hush puppies and coleslaw Pete’s Pizza & Wings – which had juicy chicken wings with delectable sauces Hangin’8 – which had delicious barbecue Nichol’s Deli – which had tasty chicken drumsticks and scrumptious blueberry lemon cookies VFW #8798 –which had mini Frito chili pies with delectable homemade chili The Meeting House – which had juicy roast beef sliders with au jus sauce and heavenly hibiscus tea Dawn’s Café – which had mouthwatering Memphis-style BBQ sliders with slaw Though everything was tantalizing to the taste buds, only two competitors walked away with the people’s vote of Best Food and Best Booth Décor. Dobber’s won Best Food and Mama Tigs won Best Booth Décor.
