ROCKINGHAM — The Richmond County Rescue Squad is gearing up for its annual barbecue sale on Friday.
Volunteer Chief Scott Waters said the squad purchased 1,000 pounds of Boston butt to make the barbecue and Perdue Farms donated thigh and leg quarters.
Plates, which include a choice of barbecue or chicken and beans, cole slaw and dessert, are $10. Deliveries of five or more plates can be made by calling 910-434-4343 or 910-206-1172.
The sale starts at 10 a.m. at the squad base on the corner of Rockingham Road and John Street, and will last until the food is sold out.
The annual sale is the squad’s largest fundraiser to help supplement its budget to pay for equipment and make repairs to the vehicles and base.
The squad receives $12,000 annually from the county budget and also receives a quarterly contribution as one of the United Way of Richmond County’s partnering agencies. The rest comes from grants and fundraisers, like selling concessions at wrestling matches hosted at the base.
Waters said the squad has been “blessed” with recent donations and grants.
Last month, Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey presented Richmond County Rescue, in addition to the squads in Ellerbe and Hamlet, with a $5,000 check.
Causey said the funding comes from a $250,000 donation from Lloyds of London, and is going toward the state’s 50 least-funded volunteer rescue squads and fire departments.
The county’s rescue squads and volunteer fire departments also recently each received $10,000 from the state budget, thanks to Rep. Ben Moss.
Waters said the squad was also awarded a $20,000 grant from CSX and a $4,500 matching grant from the Office of the State Fire Marshal to purchase battery-powered extrication equipment.
Richmond Rescue also made quite a bit as a food vendor at the state Youth Hunter Education Skills tournament over the weekend.
The squad has two ambulances and two crash trucks. One of the trucks was recently upgraded with new lights and named in honor of the late Ed Hairfield, Waters said.
The chief said they are looking for a cab and chassis to add another vehicle to the fleet.
Repairs are still needed for the base.
