Local veterans and their families are invited to enjoy a day of food, fun and fellowship at Oxford Township’s LakePoint Community Church on Saturday, Aug. 10.

The church’s Veterans Ministry is hosting its annual Veterans BBQ and Picnic from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is free.

Last year, it was attended by between 350 and 400 veterans, their family members and volunteers.

“We’re anticipating at least that, if not more, this year,” said Bob ten Bosch, the Vietnam War veteran who founded and leads the Veterans Ministry. “I’ve already got close to 100 volunteers, just from our church alone.”

No RSVP is required to attend.

“They can just come on out,” he said.

According to ten Bosch, who was in the U.S. Navy from 1966-70 and served aboard the USS Hancock, the event is a way to “honor and acknowledge” veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices, which helped “provide us the freedoms that we have today.”

In addition to having enough food to feed an army, the attendees will be treated to live music, games, door prizes, line dancing and vintage vehicles displayed by the Oakleaf Region Model A Restorers Club and Flaming Pistons Car Club of Michigan.

There will also be a juggler named Larry Hochman and a yo-yo champion named Dennis Grzesiak roaming the grounds, entertaining the crowd with their talents and tricks.

Representatives from approximately 13 organizations dedicated to providing veterans with various forms of advocacy, support, assistance and resources will be on hand to answer questions, disseminate information and make connections.

Approximately 130 homeless veterans are expected to attend the BBQ/picnic. They will be brought to Oxford by the Michigan Veterans Foundation and Piquette Square/Southwest Solutions, both based in Detroit, along with Vets Returning Home in Roseville.

“We want to provide a day of fun, entertainment and love for them,” ten Bosch said.

Being able to welcome these homeless vets and give them an opportunity to socialize, feel appreciated, not forgotten, and enjoy the church’s beautiful property, which contains frontage on both Long and Clear lakes, is the most rewarding part for ten Bosch.

He said they often tell the volunteers that “no one else does anything like this for them.”

LakePoint Community Church is located at 1550 W. Drahner Rd., west of M-24.

For more information, please call ten Bosch at (248) 417-2451 or send an email to bob@tenbosch.com.