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PINETOWN – The local Volunteer Fire Department will hold its biannual barbecue fundraiser on March 20. 

The event will be held at the fire department and is a return to tradition after the biannual event was canceled last year due to the pandemic. 

The fundraiser will take place in the parking lot of the fire station as opposed to the communal feel of years past. Four walk up lines will be available to patrons to provide a more socially distanced experience. All volunteers will be wearing proper personal protective equipment like masks and gloves to ensure the safety of patrons and volunteers. 

“We’ve put precautions in place and we’ll have it set up where we can social distance and try to keep everybody away from the building and outside in the open air,” said Fred Tetterton, Fire Chief with the Pinetown Volunteer Fire Department. “We’re going to have tents set up at the entrance of the bay doors and just try to keep everybody as spread out as we can.” 

Barbecue pork and chicken plates with traditional Eastern N.C. sides like coleslaw, potatoes and hush puppies will be available for a suggested donation of $8. There will be no combination plates available and specials orders will not be allowed to prevent excess contact between volunteers and patrons.

“People are welcome to give more. Typically we’ll average somewhere around $11 a plate with the way the donations normally run,” Tetterton said. 

The event will be held at the Pinetown Fire Department at 7262 N. Boyd Road in Pinetown. Volunteers will begin serving food at 11 a.m. and will continue until all plates have been purchased. For more information, visit the Pinetown Volunteer Fire Department’s Facebook page.