Members of the Laurel Shrine Club started rubbing down and soaking pounds of ribs for their weekend rib cook Thursday.
They started cooking the meat at about 2 a.m. Friday and sold rib slabs throughout the day Friday and Saturday. The rib cook, one of three held by the club each year, is their way of raising funds to support the work of Shriners International’s 22 hospitals for children.
Shriners International is a fraternity based on fun, fellowship and the “Masonic principles of brotherly love, relief and truth.” There are approximately 350,000 members from 191 temples or chapters in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Republic of Panama.
Shriners Hospitals for Children is an international health care system of hospitals dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing specialty pediatric care, innovative research and teaching programs.
Children up to age 18 with orthopedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate are eligible for care at Shriners Hospitals for Children and receive all services at no financial obligation to families.
“All of the money we raise from the rib sale goes to the transportation department,” explained Paul Sumrall, club vice president. “We take the children we serve to and from the hospital at no cost to them.
“Most of the time we have to go to Galveston, Texas or Shreveport, La.,” added Sumrall. “We had a couple of occasions where we had to go to Chicago.”
Club member Willard Walker said Chicago is a long trip, but they don’t mind because they are doing it for the children.
“We’re here to help crippled children,” added Walker. “It doesn’t matter what color or denomination they are. We don’t discriminate against anyone.”
Alvin Darnell, club president, said the ability to pay or insurance coverage is never an issue for patients. There is no charge for any care or services provided within Shriners Hospitals for Children facilities.
“We are fully a non profit,” said Darnell. “We provide services 24-7 and cooking these ribs is the way the money is raised.”
Darnell noted that all club members work on a volunteer basis.
“We work so kids can play,” he said. “Our satisfaction comes from knowing that we have done something to help these kids, it comes from seeing the smiles on their faces.”
The service area of Shriners Hospitals for Children includes the United States (including Puerto Rico), Canada, the Republic of Panama and Mexico. Darnel said patients are often referred to the hospital, but most of the patients come from parents or other relatives inquiring about the organization’s services.
“We’ve served hundreds of children in this area, but we welcome others,” said Sumrall. “We want people to come to us if they have children who need our services.”
Darnell described the Shriners as the biggest philanthropists in the world. Like other organizations, the Shriners have been impacted by the economy.
“The down economy has hurt everybody, but we can’t let that stop us,” said Darnell. “We have to keep going because we have the kids to take care of. We can’t let them down.”
For additional information about Shriners International and the Shriners Hospitals for Children, visit the Website at www.shrinershq.org or call weekdays from 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.
You may also call the Laurel Shrine Club at 601-426-7760.
Local News
Related Photos
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Photo/Charlotte A. Graham
Annual rib cook helps children get medical help
Laurel Shriners host fundraiser
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