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Crossroads Urban Center will host its annual barbecue Wednesday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Liberty Park.
The free event is an opportunity to meet elected officials and candidates.
Each year, Crossroads Urban Center organizes the barbecue for clients, volunteers, supporters and friends and invites elected officials to come and learn more about hunger and poverty in the community.
Founded in 1966, Crossroads is dedicated to fighting poverty through its food pantry and thrift store.
Its pantry helps thousands of people each month, giving three-day emergency "food boxes" to families in need, up to six times a year per family.
In 2015, Crossroads provided emergency food orders to 28,824 people, as well as 1,975 diapers and 455 cans of formula for infants. It also helped 131 families avoid evictions or electricity shut-offs and paid for gas, bus fare or prescriptions for 4,309 people.
"It is only through the help of hundreds of volunteers and thousands of donors, of both food and money, that we can help provide these services," said Glenn Bailey, executive director. "We work with a variety of community and religious groups who issue referrals for low-income people.
"These vouchers can be exchanged for clothing and household essentials at the our thrift store at no cost," he said. "Items are also offered at nominal prices to those without referrals or in need of other goods."