Volunteers cook through the night for barbecue plate sale benefiting victims of Sutherland Springs

ADKINS, Texas – Neighboring communities came together on Saturday to do what they could to help the families of the victims of the Sutherland Springs church shooting.

"You wonder why and it's never the right answer," Mike Most said.

Most is a pastor at St. Mark Lutheran Church in Adkins, just a few miles from the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs. 

Pastor Mike is just one of the members of St. Mark Lutheran Church who spent this past week setting up Saturday's BBQ.

More than 5,000 pounds of food was cooked overnight. All 5,000 pounds courtesy of donors, so that all of the proceeds can help those affected.

Alex Marroquin spent the whole night cooking, getting ready for Saturday's fundraiser. The shooting hit very close to home.

Marroquin's friend, John Holcombe, lost eight family members in the church shooting.

"We are gonna sell everything we can and get everything we can," Marroquin said. "My goal would be to get 20, 30, 40 thousand for these people. I mean, like he said, the money will never replace the actual victims but it will help in the recovery process of this."

Marroquin and others at work at the BBQ don't want to be called heroes, they just want to help out in this tough time.

"It's about how the community came together so quickly so fast we got less than two days notice and I️ was like I'll do my part drop everything and do my part," Marroquin said.

They're hoping the BBQ can raise $50,000, all to help the families of the victims.

And Pastor Mike said this week he's already seen many gifts of love, even those with seemingly nothing giving whatever they could.

"You see a lot of guys come in and give a cash donation and the next guy walk in with no shoes and donate $250," said Most.

Volunteers will be at St. Mark Lutheran at 10595 U.S. Highway 87 South in Adkins, Texas until 11 p.m. Saturday selling plates.

The group will be selling pulled pork barbecue sandwiches, chips, coleslaw, beans, potato salad and a drink for $10.00. 

If you can't make it out to the barbecue, you can buy a shirt for $20.