From staff reports

Next Saturday, some of the Jackson area’s best barbecue will be ready for tasting at the annual Barbecue for Charity, sponsored by the Young People in Action for Christ.

The event will kick off at 10 a.m. and will run until 6 p.m. at the Voice of Calvary Center, 531 W. Capitol St. The public will sample barbecue, with first place winners announced later in the day. The deadline to enter the contest is Monday.

Admission is $12 per person, and will include entertainment, games for youths and a showcase of young artists.

The Barbecue for Charity will aim to raise $150,000 for internships, job opportunities and training for young people, as well as for general operating support.

“Just knowing that we have done something to better our communities and the lives of our youths lets us know that we are doing things the way God would have us do them and that we are fulfilling the call that He has charged to us.” said Y-PAC Executive Director Sam Pollard in a news release to announce the barbecue.

Y-PAC, founded in 2005, aids Jackson-area people ages 17-26 through Bible-based programs that focus on education, eliminating prejudice and combating juvenile delinquency. Among Y-PAC’s community projects have been rehabbing homes for the elderly and assisting in Hurricane Katrina recovery on the Gulf Coast.