What do you get when you combine caring volunteers, deserving special needs students, and over 1,000 barbecued chicken halves with all the fixins'? The answer is the Teddy Bear and Friends Chicken Dinner at North Shelby School.
For over 20 years, Carl "Teddy Bear" Fortenberry and his friends have held an annual chicken dinner fundraiser for the senior class at the school. This past Friday saw them repeat that awesome act of love. The event raises money each year for a special trip to Myrtle Beach for school seniors.
Principal Paula Stevens talked about the school.
"The school's roots go back over 50 years," she said. "It used to be north of Shelby and was called the Children's Center."
Despite its name, the current sparkling clean and modern building was completed seven years ago and is behind James Love Elementary School south of Hwy.
U.S. 74, just off N.C. 150.
"We are a special purpose school for students with significant levels of disabilities," Stevens said.
Students range in age from kindergarten to 22 years. There are 67 students. Students are placed at the school following recommendation from their Individual Educational Program Team.
"We have a rigorous course of study tailored to their individual needs," she said. "We also have college classes here where students can learn vocational skills."
The school mascot is a Mustang and the mottos "Mustangs Have Character" and "Our belief is that all students can learn" are apt descriptions, not only of the students but the dedicated staff as well.
The chicken barbecue event started out small and has grown over the years into one of Cleveland County's most successful and heartwarming charitable happenings. Fortenberry described the chronology of the cause.
"The idea started in 2004 when my friend Robert Hunt and I started it," said Fortenberry. "We were members of the Harley Owners Group in Gastonia and had done a similar event for West St. School there. Later I was at the old school (Children's Center) and a child there told me she wished we would do a beach trip for them."
The beach trip itself is one that is in many ways a dream come true for the students who go.
"This year a dozen seniors will make the trip," said Fortenberry. "Most of them have never been to the beach or been away from home overnight. We will stay at a nice hotel. We will take them out to eat and give each one fifty dollars to spend at places like Broadway on the Beach. We will also go out on the pier. They all have a ball."
Stevens praised the benefit.
"It is a wonderful event," she said. "School staff helps with the chicken sale. They love the kids."
According to Stevens, the beach trip is super safe.
"It is very well supervised," she said. "Some of the adults that go along include retired North Shelby School staff."
Volunteers make up the main body of folks who run the event. This year over a dozen folks in right yellow "Teddy Bear and Friends" t-shirts did everything from preparing food plates to handing them out to hungry customers, to cleaning up after the last box was sold. Bob and Cindy Cabaniss have volunteered every year since the event started.
"It's the most rewarding thing I've ever done," said Bob.
"It is a great fund raiser for our special needs students," said Cindy.
No story about the event would be complete without mentioning the food and the folks who made it. Three cheers to the guys who barbecued the 1,000 chicken halves. The job was done on several huge barbecue smokers at a farm site about two miles from the school by Doug Fortenberry (Carl's cousin) and a crew of over a dozen helpers who did everything from stoke the coals to put the finished product in containers for transportation to waiting plates.
Desserts were prepared by lady volunteers. Dozens of cakes and other goodies were heaped on tables in a room at the school. The aroma of freshly baked cake filled the room and wafted out into the hallway.
Other fixins' for the plates included traditional baked beans, slaw, rolls, and pickles.
The chicken sale is always a sell-out.
"Last year we raised over $10,000," said Fortenberry. "We also got sponsorship funds from places like Sewell Contractors, Cleveland County Independent Bikers, and Windjammers Motorcycle Club."
Teddy Bear and Friends is a 501c(3) charity. Donations are always accepted. Anyone who wants to donate to this incredibly wonderful and meaningful cause can contact Carl "Teddy Bear" Fortenberry at 704-477-8774.