Despite heavy rainfall that limited attendance, 461 crab dinners
were served Saturday at the Hollister Exchange Club’s 16th annual
Crab Crack and Dance at the Bolado Park pavillion.
Despite heavy rainfall that limited attendance, 461 crab dinners were served Saturday at the Hollister Exchange Club’s 16th annual Crab Crack and Dance at the Bolado Park pavillion.
Total profit has not been tabulated yet, but chairman Dean Croft said the event grossed $26,000, the most in its history. He attributed the figure to the pavillion’s larger capacity than the Veterans Memorial Building, where the Crab Crack has traditionally been held. The building’s current renovation necessitated moving the event to Bolado Park this year.
“The bills are still coming in,” Croft said, adding that the net profit should be known next week.
Last year’s event raised $7,000, Croft said, of which $5,000 went for scholarships for San Benito High School students. The remainder was donated to Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and other youth organizations in San Benito County.
Club president Gene Francis said some members had been out since early Saturday to set up tables and prepare the food.
“It goes well when you have fellows like Dean (Croft), Steve (Schipper), Rick (Shelton) and Mac (Mota) taking charge,” Francis said. “They have a lot of experience in putting it on, and everybody – including the wives of some members – lends a hand. We are a working club.”
Francis also commended members of Boy Scout Troop 436 who served the food. “They worked hard and kept an eagle eye on the tables,” he said. “If salad, say, ran low, they were back in a flash with another container. They were on top of it.”
