Benjamin Galland
SSFSF Founders
Kitty and Harrison Sapp, Maryalice and Larry Kimel
What started out as an idea of “Soul brothers” Griffin Bufkin and Harrison Sapp to have a party to enjoy local abundance turned into a full-blown food and spirits festival that celebrates the culinary delights the coastal area has to offer! When asked how the Saint Simons Food & Spirit Festival began, Sapp said, “we were just trying to plan something in the fall to reflect past harvest times when people used to get together to share and be connected.” Instead of giving it the usual “food & wine” moniker, Griffin says, “We wanted to give it a little different vibe. “Spirits” represents not just the liquor, but some of the little mystical, mythical aspects of St. Simons.”
Sapp and Bufkin wanted to tie the event to a local charity, and as both had personal experience with hospice and believe in the importance of a community non-profit hospice, they chose Hospice of the Golden Isles. Maryalice Kimel elaborates, “I work at HGI and my husband volunteers there. I see firsthand the continued generosity Southern Soul shows to us and other not for profits in our community. Griff, Harrison and Kitty have always been there for HGI for whatever we may need. Nowhere is that more evident than the creation of the St. Simons Food & Spirits Festival to benefit HGI.”
Founder Dave Snyder emphasizes the same point, “I wanted to help celebrate the bounty of the South-- all of the amazing things our shores and land have to offer. What better way than to have a week-long celebration enjoying them? And HGI holds a very special place in my heart, so giving the profits to them just made it all the better!”
Founder Judith-Eff O’Grady explained, “I will never forget the first moment I walked in Hospice. I immediately wept, but not because it was depressing, rather it was so peaceful, serene and dignified. I knew then and there that this was a place that I wanted to support. Since then, both my husband and I have had family and close friends in Hospice who were treated with the utmost care and respect. On the Festival side, I was born into a well-known restaurant family, I am a professional event planner and no one loves food and spirits more than we do! It was a perfect match and we are proud to be Founders of this wonderfully evolving Festival.”
So the founders put the word out, pulling in folks from Georgia Grown, Georgia Organics, and the Southern Food Alliance, then asking their favorite restaurants, chefs and others. This year, 25-30 Food & Spirit Vendors and close to 50 Market Vendors are scheduled to participate in the multi-day festival that will take place October 1-5, and to date, $22,000 has been donated to Hospice of the Golden Isles from festival profits. The spark continues to blaze strong! To stay updated on event and ticket information, visit saintsimonsfoodandspirits.com.
Founders of the Saint Simons Island Food & Spirits Festival:
Camille and Taylor Adams
Helen and Don Billings
Seth and Bryce Brock
Griffin and Natalie Bufkin
Larry and Maryalice Kimel
Tom and Judy Kitchin
Jamie and Judith-Eff O'Grady
Brad and Mindy Overly
Scott and Kelly Revels
Harrison and Kitty Sapp
John and Alice Selman
Karen Brubaker and Dr. Walter Scott
Dave Snyder
Steve Swan
The Davis Love, III Foundation
