A few weeks ago, when walking to take a picture at a barbecue in the city, a man I know spotted me and my camera set to photograph someone flipping a few burgers.
“Aren’t you sick of barbecues?” he asked.
I can see his point. In the summer season, in Yorkton, one could go the entire summer eating only hot dogs prepared by one charity or another. The causes are seemingly infinite, the main connecting thread being that all of them see someone placed firmly behind a grill getting food ready for anyone who wants it, though they also hope those people will be also interested in hearing a couple words about what their particular cause does for people.
But I’m not sick of barbecues, because while it’s something pretty much everyone does in the summer to raise money, it is also the kind of fundraiser that can work even if everyone is doing it.
Let’s ignore the guy who goes around taking pictures of them, for a moment, because I often can’t enjoy them anyway, as I have to run around doing other things at noon. Instead, let’s think about everyone else in the summer. It’s a time of year where nobody really wants to cook. Turning on any heat source when the temperature has broke 30C is something that most people wish to avoid. However, annoyingly enough, people have to eat every day. The charity barbecue is a handy compromise, we can eat but we don’t have to cook anything, we can justify the minimal amount of cash offered because it’s for a good cause and a burger isn’t that expensive in the grand scheme of things.
The charity also gets the exposure that comes with having people come up and get some food. Maybe, while the hot dog is prepared, people will be willing to hear about what they are doing in the community. The quick and easy lunch could lead to more support down the line.
Even the hosts get something out of it. Local businesses get people in their doors, and local suppliers of burgers and hot dogs get people trying their products. It’s a victory for everyone.
Which isn’t to say that we can’t have a bit more variety in our outdoor cooking. For people who don’t want beef, you could easily find some other food to put on the barbecue and generate some interest in the passing crowd. It might take some experimentation to figure out what that food actually is – and I can understand a charity being unwilling to part with what works, given that they’re not as able to absorb costs - but it’s still an experiment that could be worthwhile. It could be a venture to see local meat processors try out new product lines or grocery stores to promote some new products they’ve never sold before - raise money for a worthy cause while also doing a bit of market research.
For the summer months, across Yorkton, you’re going to be able to buy a burger for charity more often than not, and it’s something that is good for the city and its residents.
