On September 16 and September 17, 2011 a fundraising event was held at the Grace Covenant Church in York, South Carolina. Boxed meals of BBQ pork, sauce, bun, coleslaw, baked beans and pound cake were sold. Food was prepared at the church for distribution. At least 300 meals were sold to the public. BBQ pork was also sold in bulk.

South Carolina Department of Environmental Control received notice of severe gastrointestinal illness in at least 68 people who reported eating food distributed at the fundraising event. No other common exposures were identified among those who were ill. Three foodborne pathogens were diagnosed in event attendees: Salmonella Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus. One person was hospitalized. No one died. A sample of BBQ was positive for Salmonella.