It’s kind of tough to report when you’ve got a plateful of fresh crab sitting in front of you, begging you to dig in, seducing you with that ocean fresh scent. Okay, so the smell’s not so pleasant, but nevertheless, it’s part of the experience of a crab feed.

Approximately 200 people showed up for the sold-out Lions Club Crab Feed at the Ralph and Mary Ruggieri Senior Center on Saturday night. Many were crustacean buffet veterans who came equipped with their own shell crackers and crab picks (including Newark Patch editor Kris Vera-Phillips, who brought enough tools for our table).

Everyone pigged out for a good cause – to raise funds to build a new food shed for Centro de Servicios, a Decoto-based nonprofit that holds weekly food giveaways for those in need.

The event also featured a silent auction, raffle prizes, music and a cash bar. Among the prizes were a pair of Golden State Warriors tickets and a final auction of a ride along with the Union City Police SWAT Team, which sold for $675.

Catch some highlights and find out more in the photo gallery below.