This weekend, community members have several convenient options for parking for the International Bar-B-Q festival that will also benefit a variety of local organizations. Owensboro Times reached out to several of the larger business and parking lots where volunteers will be stationed throughout the weekend to provide readers with the information to “park with a purpose.”
Settle Memorial Church’s parking lot, located at 201 E 4th St. will charge $5 that goes to Settle Memorial Church’s high school youth mission trip. This year the youth are traveling to Washington, D.C. and the middle school will be attending summer camp.
“We are going to be doing a lot with the homeless population and food desert [low-income areas with poor access to grocery stores],” said High School Youth Director Molly Shoulta Tucker. “We ask for a minimum $5 donation but we would gladly take more.”
Old National Bank and BB&T parking lots are located at the corner of 4th Street and St. Ann Street, 3rd Street and St. Ann Street, the corner of Allen Street and 4th Street and Allen and 3rd Street. These lots will be staffed with Owensboro Middle School volleyball players who are accepting donations, with a minimum of $5, to go to the Owensboro Middle School volleyball team.
First Baptist Church, located at 230 J R Miller Blvd., will not only offer parking, but also have a large tent set up for people to sit and under as well as relax.
“It will probably act as a rain shelter or sun shelter, depending on the weather,” said David Roberts of First Baptist Church. “We will also have sidewalk chalk, bubbles and temporary tattoos for children. We offer the Picnic Pavillion because there really is no place along the street to eat.”
Youth from the church will be taking a suggested $5 donation for parking at their 3rd and Daviess location and at the lot across from the end of the blue bridge. Donations will go to help some of the youth pay for summer camp.
Volunteers from St. Benedict’s Shelter will be collecting donations at the German American Bank lot at 313 Frederica St. There are lots beside, behind and across the street from the bank.
“We have a longstanding relationship with St. Benedict’s and have been really active with them,” said Regional President Amy Jackson. “One way we can help them raise money is to use our lot for donations over the weekend and for the weekend of the airshow.”
The men take care of the lot Friday and Saturday and have partnered with the bank for over four years.
Church for All is located at 400 East Fourth St. and will be collecting donations for their church building fund. Congregation members will be working the parking lot.
