Rock Bridge Elementary School (RBE) is putting on their annual Chicken Barbeque (BBQ) fundraiser on Saturday, Oct. 14. This volunteer-run fundraiser will take place at RBE from 3:30-7 p.m.. 

The fundraiser acts as a night for the community, selling roasted BBQ chicken meals, complete with mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls and a slice of pie. The chicken is roasted by pit-master volunteers in the outside roasting pits, then the meals are assembled in the school kitchen with the help of lunch ladies and parent volunteers. Patrons can purchase a meal ticket to eat in the school cafeteria, or purchase food through the student-run drive through. The event also includes a silent auction with items donated from businesses and individuals in the RBE community, along with games for kids in the classrooms. 

The event has persevered throughout the years due to its success and popularity amongst locals. RBE Principal Ryan Link attributes part of this success to the concerted efforts put forth by the RBE community.

“Our school decided many years ago this event would be the sole fundraiser of the year,” Link said. “Other buildings do things such as sell candy, cookie dough or have other events.  The RBE [parent-teacher association] wanted to put all of their efforts into this one event. Then, fundraising for the  year is complete after only a few months into the school year.”

According to Link, the BBQ traditionally serves around 2,000 meals during the event, with 800 sold in the cafeteria, and the remaining 1,200 sold through the public drive-thru. Link said that after expenses, the profit goes to the parent-teacher association (PTA) to fund student activities and help out teachers. 

“[RBE PTA] uses the money for field trips for each grade, celebrations such as the MAP [Missouri Assessment Program] hotdog party [and] grants for teachers,” Link said. 

While parents play a large role in running this event, RBE student volunteers assist the adults in the drive-thru. Safety Patrol Supervisor and RBE teacher Karen Moore manages the drive-thru orders along with her safety patrol students. Even with the work that goes into managing students and keeping up with the rush, Moore said she enjoys working at the Chicken BBQ every year.

“It has been fun to work in the mad pace of the drive-thru,” Moore said. “I have heard that sometimes [the] drive-thru puts out 2,000 meals [during] the hour hour time span.  That is a lot of meals, and the time really does go by fast. It is the only fundraiser that RBE does, and the money that is made from the BBQ helps provide great opportunities for the students and teachers. This is year 20 or 21 for me at RBE, so I see a lot of former students.”

RBHS students are also volunteering at this fundraiser. Elementary United, an RBHS club, will be working at the Chicken BBQ at the request of RBE. Elementary United Co-President Aditi Yerrapu said that she is excited to attend this event with 20 other RBHS Volunteers. 

“I’m so excited to see how this Chicken BBQ is similar or different from the Mill Creek fun fest,” Yerrapu said. “I’m so excited to see all the kids. Events like this are so fun, you get to meet so many new people and it also brings the community together.”

“Food is often a source of community building. People enjoy connecting with their former school or community school,” Link said. “[The Chicken BBQ] gives alumni and our community the chance to support the school and return to the school. Many alumni have fond memories of the Chicken BBQ.  They enjoy returning and being a part of the event because they remember this event from their childhood.”

Every year, the fundraiser tries to raise about as much as the year before, which for the 2023 event would be about $35,000. Principal Link said that he is “excited and optimistic” about this year’s Chicken BBQ. 

“People should come to the event because it’s a great way to support the school,” Link said. “Also, I would argue that you are not going to find a better meal in Columbia on Saturday.”