Deep-fried treats raise $20,000 to benefit Kentucky kids

Take some of everyone's favorite snacks, deep-fry them, sell them at BBQ on the River, and you have the recipe for a big financial boost for a Kentucky children's charity.

Sunrise Children's Services was the charity of choice to benefit from the sales of deep-fried Oreos and Twinkies at the BBQ on the River booth. 

WKYQ air personality Dr. Jeff Lawrence and his wife Traci headed up the booth, and Traci told The Greg Dunker Show that this year was a record. After booth rental and supplies, the delicious snacks and some generous donors helped raise $20,406 that will go to Sunrise.

Lawrence said the all-volunteer effort required over 84 people to staff the booth over the three-day event. She said the high-energy group kept it fun.

"They made it fun, they made it possible. They were great with the crowds. Got a lot of compliments saying our line was the fastest out there. And we are the least expensive, we did not raise our prices."   

 The Twinkies were $3 and the Oreos were $1.

Sunrise Children's Services have been protecting Kentucky children since 1869. The organization is focused on providing a safe place for children who have been abused or neglected, and have been removed from their homes. 

Sunrise provides care, treatment, a safe place to grow, and for older children, a place to learn some basic life skills.

Lawrence said, "It is so much more effective for us to choose to help them right now, and give them the skills, the tools, love and protection they need because if we don't help them right now while they're young, we WILL take care of them most likely when they are older." 

Too often, that care when they are older is in the criminal justice system. 

To continue to help Sunrise Children's Services, you can stop by the office at 3565 Lone Oak Rd Suite 2 in Paducah, or donate online at sunrise.org.