'Dunk a Cop' raises money for charity

Saturday’s second annual “Dunk a Cop” fundraiser at East Gate BBQ in Morgan City raised nearly $1,500 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
East Gate BBQ owner Harlan Kappel said the restaurant partnered with the Morgan City Police Department for the second time, for its “Dunk a Cop” fundraiser, which coincided with East Gate BBQ’s fourth anniversary.
Kappel expected to have a lot of traffic from the anniversary celebration so he decided to add a charity component to the event last year.
Kappel saw a lot of police officers in his restaurant so last year he approached James Blair, who is now police chief and was public information officer at the time, about partnering for the fundraiser.
Police officers were on hand most of the day Saturday to give the public a chance to make officers take a plunge into the dunking booth.
“We want to help out the police department as much as we can. We appreciate all that they do, and we definitely appreciate them helping us in this event,” Kappel said.
The police department plans to keep participating in the annual fundraiser every year, Blair said.
“We always wanted to give back to the community so the charities that I chose are dear, dear to my heart,” Kappel said.
In the fall, East Gate BBQ also puts on a cancer fundraiser. Kappel had an aunt who died of cancer, and his girlfriend has multiple sclerosis.

This story was written by Zachary Fitzgerald of The Daily Review staff. Reach him at zfitzgerald@daily-review.com.