Get Shorty

“Welcome to my underground.”

If you ask the people around Baltimore, it won’t take long before you run into someone who knows Shorty. Whether it’s at local government functions to hold our officials accountable to their constituents or doing his best to help those that need it most, Shorty is a man of the people - always involved, always helping out, and always at the grill.

This passion for the community has led to a new goal: to open a catering and pit beef business and use it as a platform for advocating for and helping to feed the homeless in Baltimore City and County. In order to do this, he has set a goal to raise $15,000. In supporting this cause, not only will you be supporting the incarnation and growth of a local business, but one that will also directly benefit the local community.

Shorty has a long resume of activism in support of the Baltimore area. He has spent time in the halls of elected officials in Baltimore City and Annapolis advocating for the homeless, asking the tough questions that reporters wouldn’t dare mention.

He has also dedicated his own personal time and resources to supporting the homeless directly.  About twice a month he visits local communities within the City and County for his Books and BBQ events. Since 2008, with the support of Jennifer Francis at Bess the Book Bus, Shorty holds a BBQ and gives away brand new books to those that attend.  The third Sunday of every month, Shorty can be found at St. Vincent de Paul Church on the grill supporting the Feed the City effort, led by fellow local activist Charm City Cee. Every August, there is a mass feeding of the less fortunate, over 1500 homeless citizens and families, and Shorty is the man cooking it all up. A lot of people talk about helping the less fortunate, but Shorty is out doing it regularly, directly benefitting hundreds of people a month.

Professionally, Shorty has been in the BBQ game for a long time. Until 2008, he was the owner of Shorty’s Pit Beef, located at the intersection of Falls and Joppa Roads in Greenspring Station. He has also worked numerous private events for Baltimore icons like Ozzie Newsome, and other Ravens and Orioles employees. One taste, and you’ll understand why he was able to build a successful business from the ground up, and why it’s going to happen again.

So the goal is to raise $15,000 by February 2nd, 2016. These funds will cover the start-up costs of the business, including licensing and permit costs, insurance, and fees. This will also cover the initial costs of acquiring a home for the business, either a brick-and-mortar storefront or a mobile unit. Lastly, this will go towards the grills, cooking equipment and product.

To benefit those generous enough to support Shorty’s vision, there are numerous reward tiers, ranging from $25 to $1000. No donation is too small, and all will be an important step to achieving Shorty’s dream of enhancing his social activism through this venture.

“If you do what you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.” Combining Shorty’s passion for the community and experience behind the grill, the potential for benefitting the community is vast, and with Shorty as the brains behind the operation, it is bound to be achieved. Thank you for reading, and please consider supporting the cause.