Shrimp boil helps raise money for 2015 Ocean Springs mega reunion

OCEAN SPRINGS, MS (WLOX) - Next year, the first ever mega reunion is being planned for anyone who ever called themselves an Ocean Springs Greyhound. Organizers are expecting thousands to attend the event.

The four-day celebration will be packed with activity, but it isn't going to be cheap. That's why fundraising efforts have already started. On Saturday, organizers and Ocean Springs High School alumni prepared a shrimp boil at Val's Bar and Grill in Ocean Springs to raise money for the big event.

Several members of the Slavic Lodge boiled 400 pounds of shrimp, along with potatoes and corn on the cob, to raise money for the mega reunion.

Joel Embry is a 1982 graduate of Ocean Springs High School and the organizer of the reunion.

"Well, you hear so much from people that they miss their reunion. They miss their 10 year, their 20 year or their 30 year, and for some reason or another they missed it. So when you mention a mega reunion, it encompasses everybody," said Embry.

Embry said his graduating class and other Ocean Springs graduates seem to all share a strong bond.

"Each class, you hear every year how close the class members are and how excited they are to stay together after they graduate and they want to come home all the time and visit Ocean Springs, the ones that move away," Embry said.

That's why Embry is expecting thousands of Ocean Springs alumni and former residents to attend next year's mega reunion. Although all this seafood is expected to help raise money for the reunion, it also benefits those who are veterans, seniors, or are disabled.

"We connect them to resources they may need. If someone calls, we have a resource guide on our website and they need help with employment or they have a home in need of small repairs, we can connect them and or help them," said Kathy Stafford an Ocean Springs Alum who works for Disabilities Connection.

The upcoming reunion is set for June 19-21, 2015. The reunion is also open to anyone who ever lived in Ocean Springs. A meeting will be held at Woody's Roadside in Ocean Springs Thursday at 6 p.m. to discuss the event.

Disabilities Connection has an office at Ocean Springs City Hall.

You can also stay up-to-date on the reunion plans by visiting the mega reunion Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/events/695588773816568/

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