Thousands expected as Coastal Bend nonprofits highlight support for Metro Ministries and Agape Ranch through annual cook-off fundraiser.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Crawfish for a Cause returned this Saturday as one of the Coastal Bend’s largest community fundraisers, bringing together food, live music, and thousands of attendees in support of local nonprofits Metro Ministries and Agape Ranch.
Organizers said the 5th annual event featured an all-you-can-eat crawfish cook-off with 20 competing teams and roughly 20,000 pounds of crawfish prepared throughout the day. Attendees were also given the opportunity to vote for their favorite team through a people’s choice system.
“This is our 5th annual Crawfish for a Cause event,” committee member Taylor Mass said. “We’ve got 20 different teams, 20,000 pounds of crawfish, and it’s all family-friendly with kids’ activities, live music, and more.”
The event also included a kids zone, live entertainment, and family activities, with children 10 and under admitted free. Organizers said remaining tickets and a silent auction helped further fundraising efforts leading up to the event.
“This being for a cause, all of our teams play nice,” Maas added, noting the competitive but community-driven atmosphere.
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Nonprofit leaders said proceeds from the event directly support local programs addressing food insecurity and foster care needs in the Coastal Bend.
Metro Ministries CEO Patty Clark said the organization continues to see strong demand for served meals and healthcare services.
“We’re serving about 1,400 meals a week,” Clark said. “That need isn’t going away.” Agape Ranch leaders said funding helps support foster families and youth programs, including respite care and emergency support services.
“There are not enough foster families here,” Community Relations at Agape Ranch Shannon Murphy said. “We want to support those families so kids can stay in our community.”
Organizers said the event continues to grow each year, with proceeds going directly back into community services across the Coastal Bend. The event will be held at Buc Days Shoreline, Gate 1 & 2 (Shoreline Blvd and Fitzgerald St), to purchase tickets, click here.