Gonzales friends invite the entire community for a meal

Gonzales resident and Edwards Association board member Quincy Johnson has gotten together with friends to invite everyone in the community to have some barbecue just because it’s good. 

“Whoever wants to drive through can get a plate,” said Johnson. 

He and Bobby Mitchell, Luis Cortez, Albert Ibarra, Justin Schwausch have been gathering up different meats and arranging for volunteers to make the sides. They’ve planned to begin serving potluck plates from noon on Feb. 5 until they run out of food.

At a similar event the same group hosted last year, Johnson said there were about 20 people manning the pits. They cooked and gave away 1,100 free plates at the Edwards Campus. Like this year, only drive-thru pickup could be provided due to COVID-19 concerns. 

“Everybody wanted to do it again. We said let’s do something for our people. Loved ones, family, friends, people we don’t know can all enjoy some food,” Johnson said. 

According to Johnson, those who drove through to get a plate last year did help the cooks collect 1,200 pounds of canned food for GCAM and a box of socks for each area assisted living facilities, but donations were not required. This year, donations of blankets and canned goods will also be accepted, though not expected in exchange for a meal. 

“It was just a great event to bring people together,” said Johnson, explaining that it was not an Edwards event, but that the board agreed to allow the group to bring out the big pit they borrowed from GVEC and share with the community.  

The group has discussed continuing with an annual event if it continues to grow larger. To volunteer or make a donation, contact (830) 857-3425.