CHOCOWINITY — November will be a busy month for fundraising as the Chocowinity Fire Department works to collect monies needed to continue serving the community.

First up is the annual fall barbecue luncheon, set for Nov. 15, according to fire chief Tommy Pendley.

“We’ll cook all night the night before and begin serving at 11 a.m.,” Pendley said. “We’re planning on cooking eight hogs and 10 cases of chicken.”

Plates are $7 each and will be piled high with pork barbecue or barbecued chicken, or a combination of the two. Each meal also comes with potatoes, cole slaw and hush puppies. Plates are available for take-out or eat-in at the fire station. The fire department auxiliary will also hold a baked goods sale the day of the luncheon.

The barbecue fundraiser is a longtime Chocowinity tradition, according to Pendley.

“I’ve been with the fire department for 16 years and they were doing it long before then,” he said. “We expect to sell about 1,200 plates.”

The luncheon is one of the department’s biggest fundraisers of the year, along with the spring car show. Everyone in the department and the auxiliary pitches in, either by cooking, serving or cleaning up after the event.

Tickets are now available for purchase and may be obtained from any fire department member or by calling the fire station at 252-946-6559.

Next on the department’s fundraiser calendar is the Christmas Expo, hosted by the auxiliary. That event is planned for Nov. 22 and runs from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Auxiliary president Regina Elks said she expects this year’s wares to include holiday decorations, wreaths, tree ornaments, handmade hair bows, jewelry and a variety of gift items.

Booth rentals for the expo are $50 per 10-by-10-foot space, if reserved and paid in advance. All monies collected will be used in the auxiliary’s support of the volunteer fire department.

For more information about the expo, contact Elks at 252-945-0601 or reginaelks@hotmail.com.

The fire department most recently wrapped up what turned out to be a successful fundraising endeavor, according to Pendley. The department partnered with Raised in a Barn Farm to sponsor “Six Nights of Fright”. a hayride and haunted trail Halloween festival. Fire department members and their families were among the volunteers who worked the festival, and department equipment such as generators and lights made the inaugural event one to remember.