By Sydney Hess. November 15, 2010. BOONE -- If baby Lucas Wilson, the newest member of Watauga Co., had a Facebook profile he would already have all of the High Country as friends.

It seemed like the entire Appalachia community appeared at Greenway Baptist Church Friday to support the smallest member of the town’s barbecue dinner. The net proceeds earned from the “country cookout” will assist the Wilson family as they cope with the hospital bills incurred by Lucas’s premature birth.

“We are just thankful that we can do this,” Melissa Isaacs said. Isaacs is a member of the Church’s adult Sunday School class, which orchestrated the feast. She and other members of the group managed the evening’s food line and doled out grilled chicken, baked beans, coleslaw, and an array of desserts to members of the community turning out to support the family.

Sharon Breitenstein, a friend of the family, said that the little baby boy was born premature ten weeks early, on September 15th. Lucas spent the first part of his life in Catawba Valley Medical Center and Watauga Medical Center. This past week, he joined his parents at home for the first time.

XXA church member at Greenway heard about the monetary strains of the infant’s prolonged hospital stays, as well as the expensive milk fortifier Lucas needs to increase his calorie intake -- and took steps for the church to host Friday’s “down-home” style dinner, said Breitenstein.

The ministry on Greenway road holds local missions similar to the Wilsons’ event for families and individuals who experience mounting financial pressures throughout the year.

“They reach out to others in need,” Mrs. Wilson said, “and are such an amazing gift and blessing to us in these times of hardship.”

Followers at the church reported that meals like the Wilsons’ raise approximately $3,000 to $4,000 per event. Isaacs estimated that this barbecue raised $6,800 thousand before expenses -- with donations still rolling in.

If you would like to contribute to the Wilson family’s fund, contact Greenway Baptist Church at (828) 264-7750.

Greenway Baptist sends a special thanks to all those who gave their time and their food to the event -- especially, the Daniel Boone Inn, which was instrumental in the dinner’s success.

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