SCAMH BBQ exceeds goal

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 18, 2014

0318-SCAMH

If laughter really is the best medicine, then a crowd that turned out for Saturday’s mental health Backyard BBQ should be feeling great this week.

“We had a great crowd, and everyone seemed to have a good time,” said Staci Wilson, marketing and training director for the event’s sponsor, South Central Alabama Mental Health.

Wilson said the fourth annual event, held at Andalusia’s Kiwanis Center, acts as a fundraiser for the organization’s many programs.

“We did exceed our goal of $20,000,” she said. “We’re not sure exactly how much yet, but we did reach the goal and go over it a little.”

Wilson said the event’s main attraction was country music artist Shane Owens, but also included plenty of food and a silent auction that featured items such as Talladega race tickets and a spa package.

“We had probably 130 people there,” Wilson said. “Shane put on a great show.”

Wilson said the money raised from the event will go toward programs that have suffered from recent state budget cuts.

“It is a tremendous help with all of the cuts and things from the state,” she said. “It helps all of our programs.”

Those programs, Wilson said, include group homes in the Greenville and Garland areas, as well as the Montezuma complex in Andalusia.

Wilson said SCAMH will hold more fundraisers throughout the year, including yet-to-be-announced events promoting Mental Health Month in May.

For more information on SCAMH, visit scamhc.org.

South Central Alabama Mental Health serves Butler, Coffee, Covington and Crenshaw counties.