Crawfest 2010 to Benefit Therapetics

Hebert’s Specialty Meats celebrates Crawfest 2010 on Saturday, May 15.

Ed Richard invites everyone to meet Saint at Crawfest 2010 and help him become a champion Therapetics service dog.

What happens when you combine crawfish with a Therapetics service dog? You have a great party for a great cause! Hebert’s Specialty Meats celebrates Crawfest 2010 on Saturday, May 15, in the parking lot at 2101 E. 71st St.  

This is the tenth year that Hebert’s owner Ed Richard will host the Cajun celebration of “poor man’s lobster,” whose roots go deep into the Louisiana territory where Ed grew up. The event features real Cajun food from a Cajun native who knows how to cook things right and have a good time sharing it. Menu items include boiled crawfish, crawfish etouffee, crawfish boudin, red beans and rice, smoked sausage sandwiches, corn maque choux and bread pudding. Grilled shrimp kabobs were a big hit last year and will be back again.

Last year’s festival kept staff busy as they cooked more than a ton and a half of crawfish. Now they hope to cook even more. “Everybody always has a good time,” says Ed. “But we also help people in need in a special way by supporting Therapetics. And that makes it even better.”

A portion of Crawfest’s food and beverage proceeds will be donated to Tulsa-based Therapetics, a nonprofit organization that trains dogs to serve Oklahomans with disabilities. The dogs learn to open and close doors, pull a wheelchair, turn lights on and off, transfer laundry from washer to dryer, and lots more. They are on the job 24/7 to assist people with spinal cord injuries, fibromyalgia, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, paraplegia, arthritis and many other physical disabilities.  

Most dogs work 8 to 10 years. Their training takes up to two years, at a cost of $15,000 per dog. Yet through the generosity of donations, Therapetics offers the dogs free of charge to qualified Oklahomans.

Nearly 40 dogs are in the Therapetics program, either working with a partner or in training. One of the newest members in training is a four-month-old golden retriever. His impressive pedigree calls for the formal name, Eldorados Winter that Dreams Came True. But in simpler terms, the pup who is destined to be a champion in service was deemed “Saint” after the Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints.

This furry little guy will be on hand, along with many other Therapetics dogs, for the public to meet and greet. Kids in particular love to learn about the dogs from the volunteers and organization directors who will be with them.

A Jupiter Jump and crawfish races will also keep the kids amused. The big crawfish eating contest draws laughs and cheers from everyone.

Hebert’s serves crawfish to go daily. Hebert’s also has crawfish to go, ready to eat or to boil yourself with authentic mixes such as Louisiana Fish Fry Products, Swamp Dust, Zatarain’s and Ball’s Cajun Seasoning. Just about any way you can imagine a crawfish – to eat, to wear, to serve or to present – Hebert’s has it.

Crawfest 2010 is all about great food, fun, music and helping out a worthy cause Saturday, May 15 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Live music from Jr. Hebert and the Maurice Playboys will lead the way to the big red house just west of 71st and Lewis.  

The home of the world famous turducken and deboned poultry features a new and expanded lunch menu with specials Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and on Saturdays, café au lait from 10 a.m. to noon.

For more information, contact

Hebert’s Specialty Meats

www.hebertsmeats.com

About Author Deanna Rebro

Deanna Rebro has worked in the publishing industry 30+ years, including eight years writing for Value News. She has also worked in real estate for the past six years. Deanna graduated from Kent State University in Kent, Ohio with a B.A. in Journalism. Outside of work, she serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors for Pet Adoption League. “Every story I write is a learning experience,” she said.