PERRYSBURG, OH — A Dickey’s Barbecue Pit location in Perrysburg is organizing a community fundraiser to help the family of Clay Township Police Department Sgt. Jacob Roesler, who died after a crash while responding to a call.

The restaurant is asking residents to come together over barbecue and support the officer’s loved ones during a painful time for the department and the broader community. The fundraiser is set for Friday, Oct. 31 through Sunday, Nov. 2, with guests able to visit the Perrysburg restaurant and contribute by taking part in the event.

How the Perrysburg restaurant is asking neighbors to help

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit says the effort is meant to give the public a simple way to show support while also honoring Roesler’s service. Owner-operator Steve Lowery said the goal is bigger than a meal, describing it as a way for people to stand beside a family facing an unthinkable loss.

Lowery said the restaurant wants the community to remember Roesler and to make sure his family knows it will not be forgotten. He said the support shown by police and residents has been important during a difficult stretch.

The fundraiser is being promoted as a chance for neighbors to do something tangible for the family while also recognizing the sacrifices made by first responders. Dickey’s says the event reflects the restaurant’s desire to use its space as a gathering point for local support.

Sgt. Jacob Roesler remembered after deadly crash

Roesler’s death came after a crash while he was responding to a call, leaving the Clay Township Police Department and nearby communities grieving the loss of a law enforcement officer. The restaurant’s event is tied directly to that tragedy and to the need for support that followed it.

Lowery said the badge represents more than a uniform and described police service as something that extends into brotherhood and sisterhood. In his words, the people who wear it look out for one another, and that bond deepens when tragedy strikes.

He said the pain of losing Roesler cannot be eased, but the family should feel the community standing with them in the days ahead. The fundraiser is intended to reinforce that message through direct local action.

Police and local leaders have shown support

Dickey’s says the restaurant is working alongside the U.S. Army Combat Veterans and local Deputy Sheriff Steve Nowery to bring the community together in honor of Roesler’s service. Their involvement adds another layer of public support to an effort that is rooted in gratitude for first responders.

Lowery said being in law enforcement goes beyond a job and becomes part of a larger family structure. He said officers watch out for each other, and that sense of unity becomes especially visible after a death in the line of duty or a fatal response call.

For the Perrysburg restaurant, the fundraiser is meant to be a visible sign that that family extends into the community itself. The goal, according to Lowery, is to ensure Roesler’s loved ones know they are not facing the aftermath alone.

Dickey’s says barbecue has long been tied to community giving

The restaurant is also leaning on its own identity as a long-running barbecue brand to frame the fundraiser. Dickey’s says barbecue has always been about bringing people together, and the company is using that idea to support a local family in need.

Founded in 1941 in Dallas, Dickey’s says it has spent decades serving guests and building a restaurant culture centered on community. The company describes its menu as Texas barbecue with smoked meats and homestyle sides, and says that tradition now carries into charitable efforts like this one.

By opening its doors for the fundraiser, the Perrysburg location is turning a meal into a way to contribute to something larger. The restaurant says the event reflects both its brand and its intention to help a grieving family in a practical way.

When guests can visit and how the event fits the moment

The fundraiser runs from Friday, Oct. 31 through Sunday, Nov. 2, giving the public several days to stop by and take part. Dickey’s says the event is intended to make participation easy for anyone who wants to help the family while showing respect for Roesler’s service.

For the community, the gathering arrives at a time when the loss is still fresh and the need for support remains immediate. The restaurant is presenting the effort as a shared act of remembrance as much as a fundraiser.

In Perrysburg, the event offers a local outlet for grief, appreciation and solidarity. Dickey’s says it hopes the community will come together to honor Roesler and stand with the family he leaves behind.

The fundraiser will run for three days at the Perrysburg restaurant

The event is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 31 through Sunday, Nov. 2, and will be hosted at Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Perrysburg. The restaurant is asking people to visit during that window and help support the officer’s family through the fundraiser.

Dickey’s says the gathering is meant to give the public a straightforward way to respond to the loss while keeping the focus on Roesler’s service and his family’s needs. The restaurant is encouraging participation from anyone who wants to contribute and show support.