United Way holds crab boil fundraiser

The local United Way held its Second Annual United Way Crab Boil fundraiser Saturday at Beaver Creek Golf Course and raised about $23,000.

The event, which is intended to kick off the season’s fundraising which officially begins Oct. 1, started at 5 p.m. with cocktail hour, followed by the crab boil at 6 p.m.

United Way Executive Director Jessica Nebel said the event was “fantastic.” It sold out, with about 150 guests filling 17 tables.

“Nobody left hungry,” she said. “I didn’t hear one complaint. All I heard were toothpicks.”

A tray with a mix of crab — fresh out of the boiling water — shrimp, corn, potatoes and cabassa was set on each table, and guests ate without utensils. They did, however, get a bib and a roll of paper towels, Nebel said.

During the evening, there was also a live auction. Among the prizes, guests won a wine-tasting session for eight, home-cooked crab boil at the home of the winner, a ladies trap shoot for eight and nine holes of golf for eight.

The proceeds all went to the United Way and its partners, among them, CASA — Court Appointed Special Advocates —  the food and hospitality ministry Feed My Sheep, Havre Food Bank, Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels,  Human Resources Development Counsel and North Central Senior Center.