Freeport-Roosevelt NAACP Hosts Community BBQ to Celebrate Juneteenth

This past Saturday, June 22, 2024, at the Waterfront Park, from 11a.m. to 6p.m., The Freeport-Roosevelt NAACP Youth and College Division hosted a community BBQ to celebrate Juneteenth, also known as Freedom Day.

This event highlighted the importance of culture and community.

The Freeport-Roosevelt Adult Branch, led by Eugene Williams, Chair of Civic Engagement, organized a voter registration drive alongside the BBQ. Absentee ballots were available for early voting for military personnel and those unable to visit the polls.

Christine Waters, the NYS Education Chair, provided valuable information on banned books and the Teach the Truth initiative.

President Doug Mayers praised the collaboration, acknowledging the efforts of Donna Raphael, 1st Vice President, and Allois Douse, Youth Council Advisor, who were instrumental in uniting the entire branch for this event.

The community showed dedicated support, with Chef Elvis donating hamburgers and franks.

Small vendors that sold African themed clothes and jewelry were invited to sell their products although the entire event was free of charge for entrance and to get to food and drinks.

The NAACP expressed hope that that these vendors would get some sort of recognition from the event to help with their future business endeavors.

“Food and drinks were all free. Nothing was to be paid for. Everything was free,” Douse said.

“We gave the community a chance to make money,” she added.

“Because even though we have people coming for free, and people that had businesses that no one knows exist, so it was a grand opportunity for us to allow community people in the community showed their merchandise and also earn some income.”

These vendors also donated to the event while students from Freeport High School were also present and volunteered for the event.

Representatives from Fidelis Care was present and ready to tell the community all about their services and gave out cups to mark the event.