Mark your calendars for Trinity Episcopal Church’s Fourth Annual “Claws for a Cause” outreach fundraiser and buy tickets now. 

We’ll be blocking off South Commerce Street in front of the church in beautiful downtown Natchez on the evening of May 20, Pentecost Sunday, for a street party and feast, 5 to 8 p.m.

What’s on the menu? Delicious lobster, great barbecue chicken and hamburgers. Beer, wine, soft drinks and snowcones will be available for purchase.

Along with the great food and drink, our event’s lively atmosphere is one you will not want to miss.

The PineBelt Pickers, a bluegrass, folk and roots music band from Hattiesburg will provide musical entertainment, and if they don’t get you up and dancing, they’ll have your toe tapping. 

Kids will enjoy inflatable jumps, face painting and games in a fenced yard. Join a guided church tour to learn about Trinity’s history, stained glass windows and organ. Most of all, you can sit back and enjoy being with friends, knowing that your good time also supports the good work of local and Mississippi ministries.

We encourage everyone to come out and support this great cause as 100 percent of the proceeds after expenses will be split evenly between two ministries: the Natchez Stewpot and The Damascus Endowment. 

Natchez Stewpot serves hundreds of meals each day to those in need in our community, both in its St. Catherine Street location and in daily deliveries made throughout the county by volunteers.

Amanda Jeansonne, president of the Stewpot Board, says, “We are very grateful for the support of Trinity Church, and to be chosen as the beneficiary of the Claws for a Cause fundraiser.

The money raised will help provide much-needed equipment, repairs and maintenance, and will also help with our higher utility bills in the summer months.”

The Damascus Endowment provides scholarships for individuals with special needs to attend Camp Bratton-Green, the camp of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi in Canton, open to all.

The Special Sessions, as they are called, occur twice each summer, once for individuals with mental and/or physical disabilities under age 40, and once for those over age 40. 

Those camp sessions have been life-changing events for campers and counselors alike, leading to many life-long friendships and drawing many counselors to commitments to servant ministry. Last year, because Natchez residents ate lots of lobster, Trinity Episcopal Church was able to write each beneficiary a check for more than $10,000. 

Claws for a Cause has become a Natchez block party everyone looks forward to each May.

Guests and volunteers all have a great time. “Claws for a Cause is an exciting and fun way of raising money for charity.

The people of Natchez have been very helpful in this event in the past and we hope for continued wonderful support this year,” said Ken Ritter, Trinity’s priest-in-charge.

To purchase tickets or T-shirts, call your favorite Trinitarian or the church office at 601-445-8432 or visit trinitynatchez.org to purchase online. To get to Natchez in time, the lobster must catch a flight, so, the deadline for ordering lobster is May 14. Miss it and you still may eat chicken or burgers, but why miss this novelty for Natchez?  Come out for Claws for a Cause!

Lee Carby is this year’s chair for Claws for a Cause.