Viewfinder: Arcadia BBQ & Blues Festival

A few years ago, a couple of teen members of got lost while biking in the. That’s how Rev. Tom Shriver first learned about the and why he decided to host a fundraiser at the church over the weekend benefiting that organization.

“Here at Emmanuel Church our mission is to search and seek and rescue people spiritually, and they’re doing it physically, so I thought it tied in really well,” Shriver said.

Emmanuel Church has a large number of members who are musicians--including Shriver--so naturally they chose to host a fundraiser for SMSR.

“When they approached me about doing a music festival fundraiser, I got really excited because I’m a musician. I play in a band,” said Roberto Crespo of SMSR. “It’s benefiting our team, so I think it’s very cool.”

In addition to the five bands performing, the festival featured displays from SMSR and the , gourmet food trucks and various activities for kids. SMSR will use the donations to purchase rescue equipment and medical supplies, to cover training costs and to maintain its rescue station and vehicles.

SMSR is an all-volunteer organization whose primary rescue response area encompasses the mountains above Sierra Madre, Arcadia, Monrovia and Duarte, including the popular Chantry Flats area and Mt. Wilson Trail.

“Our mantra is ‘anywhere in the wilderness that someone needs help,’” Crespo said.