Photo by Ken Ruinard

Bob Cosgrove, left, holds a plate for Rick Bismark, middle, to add barbecue pork while Bill Brockelbank of Anderson during the 2nd Annual St. Mary's of the Angels Catholic Church Saturday to benefit Clean Start in Anderson. Clean Start offers homeless a place to get a free haircut, wash clothes, and take a shower.

ANDERSON — St. Mary of the Angels Catholic Church turned the front of its social hall into a drive-through Saturday for the church’s second annual charity barbecue.

The event was begun last year to raise money for the Men’s Club at the Anderson parish. But Clean Start of Anderson, a volunteer organization that helps provide hygiene care for the local homeless population, also will receive some of the proceeds this year.

Community members either walked or drove to the parish’s social hall to order barbecue sandwich meals for $7.50 a plate. The Ole Country Smokehouse in Anderson provided the barbecue.

Bill Brockelbank, the president of the parish’s Men’s Club and event organizer, said food sales Saturday were better than he expected. He was glad the parish sold more than 400 dinners by the end of the day, he said.

“We learned so much last year, and we built on that this year,” Brockelbank said.

He has been impressed with the Clean Start outreach, and many members of the St. Mary parish are volunteers for the program, he said.

Dan Waldsmith, 45, of Anderson bought four dinners Saturday with his sons Danny, 12, and Matthew, 11, who helped to carry the food. He said it felt great to contribute to Clean Start.

“We think it is a wonderful organization,” Waldsmith said. “They do a great work. We are glad it originated from our church.”

Members of Clean Start wash the clothing of the homeless residents and also try to help them secure jobs. The organization is starting a campaign to buy the building they operate out of, which is located on 219 Townsend Street in Anderson.

Lester McDowell of Anderson is a member of the Men’s Club and is a volunteer for Clean Start. Roughly 20 people come to Clean Start each day to ask for help, McDowell said.

“They are very grateful and respectful,” he said.

Floyd Hill of Anderson also bought some barbecue dinners and is a member of the St. Mary congregation. He was happy the money from the sales is going to the parish and Clean Start.

“It is great,” Hill said. “It is something good for people that don’t have the means to do it for themselves.”