T-L Photo/CARRI GRAHAM John Shreffler, owner of Shreff’s Hometown BBQ, and Crystal Feetters show a few of the donated bikes that will be given away to local children during the stand’s Easter dinner giveaway. The event is set for 11 a.m. Saturday at the food truck location along Ohio 7 in Powhatan Point.

POWHATAN POINT — Shreff’s Hometown BBQ will provide hundreds of hot meals to those in need this weekend during its Easter dinner giveaway.

John Shreffler, owner of Shreff’s Hometown BBQ, said thanks to the support and generosity of the community, the food truck will provide around 300 meals to local residents during Saturday’s food giveaway. More than $1,500 in monetary donations was collected from community members to help support the event.

“Shreff’s is not the hero in this, it was the community that has come together to make this happen. We’re just a small part of it,” he said. “We just really appreciate all of our customer’s and the community’s support — they’re the one who makes this happen.”

The free event is set to begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the food truck, located along Ohio 7 in Powhatan Point next to Dollar General. Attendees will have the choice of a pulled pork sandwich or ham sandwich, along with mashed potatoes, corn, green beans, dinner roll and a drink. Sweggy’s, another local food truck, also will be on location to provide those in attendance with free desserts.

“Anyone that needs a meal can stop on by. It’s all free,” Shreffler said.

Additionally, more than 40 bikes will be given away to children in the community. Shreffler said community members, small businesses and the oil and gas industry donated around 46 bikes that will be given away at the event to local kids, along with more than a dozen fishing poles and Easter baskets.

There is a range of bike sizes that would be appropriate for ages 3-6, 7-9 and 10-13. A drawing will take place during the event where children can select an egg from a basket — some will be filled with candy, while others will contain winning tickets. Those who pull an egg with a ticket inside can select a bike of their choice.

“It’s all for the kids, that’s what it’s all about,” he said.

This is not the first Shreffler has provided free meals to those in the community, and he said it won’t be the last. It all started last year, when a friend gave him $120 to feed families in need for Christmas, he said.

“We said, ‘Absolutely, we’ll make sure people that need it will receive something to eat.’ When I posted about it on Facebook, it blew up and the community came together and we received a good bit of monetary donations. … So then we decided to hold a Christmas dinner giveaway where we gave out almost 200 meals at that time,” he said.

After the success of the first food giveaway, Shreffler said he wanted to keep it going for the major holidays of Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas.

A donation box will be on location for anyone who would like to support the next food giveaway, set for Thanksgiving.

“If someone wants to donate, they can donate; if not, that’s fine, too,” he said. “We’re just overwhelmed by all the support we’ve received and are very grateful to everyone in the community and surrounding communities who have all helped make this happen.”