BBQ on the River raised $364,000 for local charities

Over the New Years holiday, the final numbers were released for the fundraising efforts of the latest Barbecue on the River festival.

Beautiful Paducah and the BBQ on the River Planning Committee revealed that this past fall’s festival raised $364,189 for local and regional charities and nonprofit organizations.

In the past four years a total of $1,399,834 has been awarded to more than 90 local groups.

Among individual barbecue teams, Tilford's Q Krew raised $50,661 for Easter Seals of Western Kentucky. 

Buzzard Brothers Barbecue donated $33,333.33 to Community Kitchen.

Paducah Professional Firefighters divided $27,000 between the Muscular Dystrophy Association and funds for Kids Christmas, Coats for Kids, funds for families affected by fires, and the Firefighters for Change fund.

Other barbecue teams raising more than $10,000 were Ballard Memorial Baseball and Kiwanis of Paducah.

Among the vendors of other food, drinks and desserts, the top contributor was Dr. Jeff's deep fried Twinkie and Oreos, raising $18,995 for Sunrise Childrens Services. Boy Scouts Dutch Oven Cobbler raised $7,280 for Troop 2484. Highland Cumberland Presbyterian Church raised $6251 for six different funds, and Paducah Elks cajun corn raised $5842 for Lodge 217.

Organizers say that preparations for next September's Barbecue on the River are already underway.