The crab feed season is quickly winding down in the 95361, as a final one wraps up the season this Saturday, Feb. 22 at the IMDES Portuguese Hall, Oakdale.
Proving that one may never have enough crab or fall short on supporting a good cause the inaugural event sold out just days before this story went to press. A total of 300 tickets were sold for a ticket price of $50 per person.
Attendees will be served marinated cold crab, penne pasta, salad, dinner rolls and a complimentary dessert.
“We’ve been talking about it for some years,” IMDES President Cher Bairos said. “Past members and presidents could not agree to have one. I thought that it was a good thing to bring up again and see what the members think now.”
Bairos shared she discussed with the group the amount of energy and work it takes to host such an event. Not afraid of some hard work, as well as community attention the decision was made to host their first crab feed.
The sold out event will also host a gun raffle as well as silent auction. Bairos added people throughout the community have been very supportive of the event.
“I hope to see people that are in our organization show up. The Boy Scouts are helping us. We have other community members helping us,” the president said.
The younger of the Portuguese Halls, IMDES began formally meeting in 1997; they purchased the Albers Road property where their Hall is located in 2015, according to Bairos. Fundraisers such as the crab feed will generate revenue needed for hall projects.
“We just want to get more people to know about us and what we’re about,” the president noted. ‘We’re just a small little organization. We just do a few events a year, very small.”
The south end Portuguese Hall also hosts the annual Festa where they feed everyone in the community and gather as they once did in “the old country”. This year’s event will be hosted in late April. Auction items and donations are currently being accepted.
“It’s not a competition, we help each other,” Bairos said of the FES Portuguese Hall located on the northwest side of the city. “We go to their events, some of them come to our events.”
For Bairos, her involvement and commitment is a labor of love. A cultural experience she recalls from her childhood, which was much of her upbringing.
“It’s just who I am and where I’m from,” she said, “the family part of it.”
“It just makes me so happy. I should’ve done it a long time ago,” she shared, noting the joy she gains from helping the more tenured members and the growth of the group.
“I feel it’s important to help and support one another.”
For additional information on the IMDES Portuguese Hall or the upcoming Festa contact Bairos at (209) 496-1143.
