Meals on Wheels People Martin Luther King, Jr. Center will host the 10th annual Summer in September Jambalaya Festival & BBQ Saturday, Sept. 12, from noon to 6 p.m. at Dawson Park. Live musical entertainment will feature Randy Starr & The Players as well as BlowFrogz.

The culinary team for this event is headed by Teletha Benjamin, past Meals on Wheels People board member, and past Meals on Wheels People Executive Director Joan Smith, both of whom have connections to Southern Louisiana. The pair will be using a traditional Creole-style jambalaya recipe passed down in Teletha’s family. Proceeds from the event will provide hot meals to seniors served by the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center in Northeast Portland.

“The daily menu at the Martin Luther King, Jr. Center has evolved to include a variety of soul food entrées,” said Center Manager David Lomax. “The food has received such good reviews that we decided to make it available to the general public for one special night. We guarantee a sumptuous feast to delight the taste buds!”

The menu includes authentic Creole-style jambalaya (a non-seafood version is available) or BBQ Ribs, along with bread, salad, beverage and dessert. This multi-generational event will feature a children’s area with Niki Brown Clown, gamSummes and activities and door prizes, including a 32-inch television and a 9-inch tablet, will be given away. Cost is $15 for adults or $45 for a family ticket for four. Tickets are available in advance, from the center or at the event. Meals are available for take-out.

Dawson Park is located between N. Williams and N. Vancouver and Morris and Stanton Streets across from Emanuel Hospital. Martin Luther King, Jr. Center is located at 5325 NE MLK Blvd. in Portland. For more information, call David Lomax at 503.953.8207.

About Meals on Wheels People: Since 1970 Meals on Wheels People has provided a nutritional and social lifeline for seniors through 32 meal sites in Multnomah, Washington and Clark counties and Meals on Wheels delivery to homebound seniors. With the help of 8,000 volunteers, the nonprofit organization now serves 5,000 meals daily and 1.2 million meals each year.

Contact information: Julie Piper Finley , ABC, Director of Marketing and Communication, 503-953-8136 or 503-318-1362 or Julie.piperfinley@mealsonwheels.org

By Julie Piper Finley