Annual barbecue offers lots of 'Bodacious' fun

The 36th annual Bodacious Barbecue is right around the corner — July 20, so mark your calendar now — and the weather forecast for East Hope calls sunny skies and temperatures in the low 80s. Add in the location — the historic Litehouse Beach House — and great food — the Pack River Store’s savory brisket and delicious macaroni salad, it’s an event that is as fun as the cause it supports. All proceeds go toward the Memorial Community Center and its Hope Preschool.

Stil not enough? There’s also some unique and awesome auction items.

All that’s missing at the 36th annual event — slated to be held from 4:30-8 p.m. at the Litehouse Beach House, 46242 Highway 200, East Hope — you, your neighbors, your friends, and your family, MCC officials said in a press release inviting the community to come join the fun.

To purchase your tickets — the sooner the better — call Carolyn Speelmon at the MCC office at 208-264-5481, go online to memorialcommunitycenter.com, or stop by the community center, 415 Wellington Place in East Hope, from 11 a.m.- 3 p,m,, Tuesday through Thursday.

What will the $60 ticket price buy you?

- A slow cooked brisket dinner along with macaroni salad, Sweet Lou’s baked beans, Asian cabbage salad, rolls and dessert;

- Beer, wine, and margarita bar;

- A summer evening spent lakeside with friends, neighbors, and family;

- An auction that includes a boat rental, gift certificates to our best restaurants and shops, and a two-night stay at the Coeur d’Alene Resort,

More importantly, it’s what you can do for the center. Your ticket also:

- Helps an area 4-year-old prepare for kindergarten “because learning can’t wait;”

- Ensure that an area 12-year-old will have Christmas gifts and a Christmas dinner;

- Help provide an area 18-year-old with a much-needed college scholarship;

- Support a place of community where local residents can exercise, quilt or attend AA meetings.

“You really can make a difference,” Speelmon said. “Please partner with us to sustain the Hope Preschool and community center for another year. The Bodacious Barbecue is our big fundraiser.”

Information: 208-264-5481