CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Mallard Creek Barbecue has been a tradition in the community for nine decades, but it's so much more than just a church fundraiser.
Let's connect the dots.
The barbecue first started in 1929 when the Mallard Creek Presbyterian Church was building Sunday school rooms at the time, when the nation fell into the Great Depression.
They couldn't afford to pay the contractor, so they hosted a barbecue to raise money. Over 90 years later, the money is still being raised to support local missions.
But the barbecue is also a long-running political tradition. It's traditionally been a sit-down meal to give candidates a chance to talk to voters. The event is always the fourth Thursday in October, just a few weeks away from Election Day, so voters can get a side of politics with their pork.