Last Sunday, hundreds of islanders shared in the luck of the draw, attending a bountiful cookout served up by Dre Neeley, chef and co-owner of the popular island restaurant, Gravy.

The cookout was Neeley’s most recent way of giving back to the community — this time by celebrating his winning ticket in Voice of Vashon’s raffle for a free three-minute shopping spree at Vashon Thrifway.

Neeley, aided by his wife and Gravy co-owner, Pepa Brower, used that spree to score all the ingredients of the cookout, held on the grassy front lawn of The County Store & Garden. Those who attended were asked for a $25 donation, with all the proceeds going to Vashon Food Bank, where Neeley sits on the board of directors.

Donations to the joyous, family-friendly event garnered $7,969 for the food bank, said Emily Scott, its executive director, who called the tasty town gathering an “amazing show of support” for her organization.

“The collaborative effort between Voice of Vashon, Thriftway, Gravy and The Country Store that made the event possible was truly inspiring and so very Vashon,” Scott said. “What a wonderful, even poetic, way to wrap up the busy summer season. Thank you to the dozens of volunteers who helped make it happen and to the hundreds of islanders who came out to eat, drink, laugh and celebrate our island community. Cheers to all for Vashon’s food security!”

Scott urged islanders who couldn’t make it to the event but still want to contribute to the food bank to do so at tinyurl.com/2kcrccwu.

“You can make a one-time gift or, even better, a monthly contribution that helps us provide reliable access to a wide variety of nutritious food for thousands of islanders who use the food bank every year,” she said.

Find out more at vashonfoodbank.org.

Meet the grillmasters: (left to right) Keith King, Luis Solz and Dre Neeley, along with the rest of a small cooking crew, made sure everything tasted just right at the community cookout. (Elizabeth Shepherd photo)

Dre Neeley and Pepa Brower, co-owners of Gravy, at the benefit cookout last Sunday at The Country Store. (Tom Hughes photo)

Jan Staeli, owner of The Country Store and Farm, was all smiles as she cuddled with her granddaughter Eloise at the community cookout on the grounds of her historic general store. (Elizabeth Shepherd photo)

Islanders lined up for salads, grilled meats and veggies, and other delectable southern cuisine at the community cookout. (Kent Phelan photo)