And for 10 years, that is just what the Cape Beard organization has done in Cumberland County.
Cape Beard is a nonprofit group of bearded and mustachioed individuals, many of whom are veterans. The group was organized in February 2011 and is currently composed of 25 members who meet monthly.
“We are around 25 strong and growing, of course, like our beards,” laughed Brack.
The group has raised a total of $190,000 locally from their events since the first Pig Pickin’ in May 2012.
The group began as a club of facial-haired friends and grew into something more with their charity events.
“It just grew into something that nobody saw as a future goal,” Brack said.
Cape Beard Treasurer Johnny Schantz echoed this sentiment.
“We are like Kudzu. We just take over,” he said.
The Pig Pickin’ event itself has raised over $85,000 over the years.
The proceeds from the event are given to the Autism Society of Cumberland County.
The society was founded in the 1980s by a small group of parents. These parents were looking for support and wanted to learn more about autism and improve the quality of life for their children. The group’s mission is to provide support and promote opportunities that enhance the lives of individuals within the autism spectrum and their families. For more information on the cause, visit www.autismcc.org.
Marking a decade of helping locally, the tenth annual Cape Beard Pig Pickin’ will kick off at 10 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. on May 21.
On top of supporting the cause, attendees can expect to find much to enjoy at the event. Cape Beard will be prepping 750 pounds of Boston butt. Hungry visitors can grab a $5 plate of pulled pork, slaw and baked beans, hang and eat in a tented dining space, or grab their food and go. Sodas and water will be available for purchase, and Bright Light Brewing Company will be on hand with their local beers.
If patrons find they need to finish off their BBQ with something sweet, Freddie’s Frozen Custard will be selling frozen custard with proceeds going to the cause.
Not hungry? There will be vendors on site selling everything from wood crafts to soaps, jewelry and more.
There is a strong contingent of downtown businesses supporting the event and vending. The Downtown Market of Fayetteville, Garnet Skull, Rude Awakening and White Trash will have booths set up at the event.
Kids can wear themselves out in any of the four free bounce houses, including an inflatable obstacle course, and all can enjoy music.
The All Veteran Parachute Group is slated to make an appearance on the day; for up-to-date times on their jump, double check the event’s Facebook page.
Organizers expect it to be busy.
“People come, get a plate of pork or pork to-go and then boogie, so you have this constant flow all day,” Brack said.
The event will be held at the Harley-Davidson of Fort Bragg, located at 3950 Sycamore Dairy Road.
“We truly take over their dealership,” said Brack.
“Oh yeah, every inch. Grass, parking lot, all of it,” Shantz said.
For Brack, it is a satisfying endeavor. For him it is all about “seeing the event grow; seeing the payback to the community; seeing the community appreciate what we are doing.”