Daddy Joe's Beach House BBQ & Grill will be open Sunday, Oct. 11, to participate in a fundraiser for the Cherokee County Literacy Association, a non-profit agency that teaches adults to read.

"Normally, Daddy Joe's is not open on Sunday," Literacy Association executive director Dewitt Clyde said. "But Shag has graciously agreed to help us in this effort by opening his doors on Sunday, Oct. 11, and basically giving us his profits for the day. This is the third time Shag has done this and we are certainly grateful. We hope that everyone looking for a place to eat lunch after church that day will stop by for some of the best barbecue in South Carolina."

Actually, according to Southern Living magazine, Daddy Joe's barbecue is recognized as one of the very best in the South, having gained that distinction several times in recent years.

Instead of the normal meals, Daddy Joe's will have a barbecue buffet consisting of chopped pork barbecue, Calabash chicken, baked beans, hush puppies, French fries, cole slaw and tea. Desserts donated by Literacy Association board members will be sold separately. The eatery will be open from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m.

The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for children 8 years old and younger. Tickets will be sold at the door, but the public is encouraged to buy tickets in advance by calling the Literacy office at 487-2707 or purchasing them from a board member.

Corporate sponsors for the event are Upstate Carolina Medical Canter, Board of Public Works and Nestlé Frozen Foods.

In Cherokee County nearly one of every four adults cannot read.

"According to the statistics, these people are functionally illiterate, which is often described as having a difficult time of not being able to find an intersection on a road map, not being able to read the newspaper, not being able to read the labels on prescriptions,” Clyde said. “Having that many people involved is certainly a drawback in this community. The Literacy Association tries to correct this problem by teaching adults to read. We can help people who cannot read at all and get them to about the fourth grade level. But we need help.

“We need the reading public to help non-readers find us. We need more tutors. And, of course, we need cash flow for materials, rent and salaries. investing your time, effort and resources in helping others to read is one wa to improve the world in which we live,” Clyde said. “Just think how much better life would be for everyone if more people could read.”