Nimble Thimble Quilt Club members display the quilt they created and raffled off during the Jim Rhoades Memorial Hog Roast in 2022 inside Scott Hall at the Johnson County fairgrounds. The annual event is organized by the Rotary Club, with proceeds split to support the Interchurch Food Pantry and Good Cheer Fund.
DAILY JOURNAL FILE PHOTO
Every year, the Johnson County community comes together to fight hunger during the Jim Rhoades Memorial Hog Roast.
People pack into Scott Hall at the Johnson County fairgrounds to load up on pork, green beans, potatoes and desserts. They listen to holiday music performed by the Franklin Community Band, and socialize with people all while donating money to a pair of food insecurity programs — the Good Cheer Fund and the Interchurch Food Pantry.
And at each event, a group of skilled fabric workers show off their quilts, decorations and other projects to ensure even more people have food.
“It’s something that’s just really close to this club’s heart,” said Becky Horton, a member in charge of the hog roast activities. “It is my favorite initiative that we do.”
Just like pulled pork and Indian Creek FFA pork chops, the Nimble Thimble Quilt Club has become an integral part of the annual hog roast. Members spent months making a variety of items to sell, in addition to raffling off Christmas quilts to other attendees.
The Nimble Thimbles are active in a variety of community service during the year. But their efforts with the hog roast are a point of pride for all who take part.
“It’s a passion. It’s something you get excited about, and it grows,” said club member Pam Kessel. “It’s grown and become quite an important thing.”
This year’s Jim Rhoades Memorial Hog Roast will be held from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 30 at Scott Hall. Dine-in or drive-through meals are available.
The Nimble Thimble group has been sewing and quilting for good causes for more than 30 years. The club was founded in Johnson County in 1989, as a part of the county’s extension homemakers program.
The goal was not only to preserve and advance the fabric arts, but to use their skills to help the community as well.
The club is active in a number of different ways as well. They make bags for the First Steps reading program, so children taking part have something to carry their books in. Their quilts have been given to local hospice patients, have been provided as lap quilts for veterans on the Indy Honor Flights, given as blankets for babies in intensive care and made pillowcases for foster children to carry their belongings.
“One of our by-laws is to support the community, and we do it in a million different ways,” Horton said.
But one of their most visible efforts comes every holiday season during the Jim Rhoades Memorial Hog Roast. Lunch is free, though people are encouraged to donate what they can to support both the Interchurch Food Pantry and the Good Cheer Fund.
The hog roast was started in 1996 at the behest of Rhoades, a former county commissioner and rotary member. Rhoades was a well-known character in the community. He hosted the hog roast in the parking lot of his business, Rhoades True Value Hardware in Franklin. Eventually, a heated tent was erected outside his hardware store on Jefferson Street to give people a place to sit.
To support the dinner, Rhoades would canvas the community asking for in-kind donations. Farmers would donate hogs or chickens. Vendors would provide massive grills. Dozens of other businesses would provide drinks or sides or other supplies.
Rhoades was involved in the hog roast until his death in 2005, at which point the Franklin Rotary Club decided to carry it on. The first year Rhoades held it, the hog roast raised $3,500.
Last year, the event raised $54,900 to fight hunger.
The Nimble Thimble Quilt Club has been involved with the hog roast for years, participating as part of the club’s Feed the Hungry activities.
“Everything we raise gets donated to the hog roast,” said Vicki Craig, club president. “Last year, of all the contributors, we were among the top three of significant donors.”
The tradition stretches back years, when a couple members of the Nimble Thimbles decided to set up a card table and sell a handful of crafts at the event.
“It has evolved into three or four long tables filled with beautiful handmade works,” Horton said. “Last year, this little club donated $3,000.”
The club has been making a number of items to sell at the hog roast, including fabric Christmas trees were a hit during the 2022 event, Horton said. They’ll also raffle a Christmas quilt to raise funds.
“All of the women just donate their crafts. It’s a great place for people to shop for their stocking stuffers — or their stockings,” Horton said.
Club members are excited to once again be part of the hog roast.
“Time are hard. There are so many hungry people, and you can’t have that,” Horton said.
IF YOU GO
Jim Rhoades Memorial Hog Roast
What: An annual event hosted by the Franklin Rotary Club. This year’s event will be both drive-through and dine-in.
When: 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Nov. 30
Where: Scott Hall at the Johnson County fairgrounds
Cost: The lunch is free, but donations are requested.
Why: Proceeds benefit the Johnson County Good Cheer Fund and Interchurch Food Pantry
