Chili cook off raises money for Kids Against Hunger

By: 
MEGAN LINSKI

Pastor Gordy Peterson of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church (l-r) stands with Laura Stieler, winner of the chili cook off, and Pastor Cathi King of First Presbyterian Church of Tecumseh. Photo submitted.

Congregation members from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and First Presbyterian Church went head-to-head on January 27 during a chili cook off to raise money for Kids Against Hunger, a charitable organization that packages food for starving children. The event was held at the First Presbyterian Church, and approximately 70 people attended. Over $500 in entrance fees were raised at the cook off, and donations are still being tallied.

Kids Against Hunger creates packages of highly nutritious food for children who are starving, and whose digestive system and body is shutting down from hunger. This formula has been known to bring children back from the brink of death, and restore them to health in a time period of six months. The two churches are hosting a packaging event on March 12 for Kids Against Hunger, where congregation members will put together the packages used to feed hungry children.

The cook off had a cowboy theme. Tables were decorated with handkerchiefs, sheriff badges, ropes and rustic candles, to emphasize the feeling of sitting around a campfire. Pat Housekeeper, member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, said the event had a great turnout. “The first hour or so was spent going from pot to pot,” Housekeeper said. “There were fourteen crock pots filled with various types of chili, such as vegetarian chili and even Cincinnati chili, made with spaghetti and a chili sauce poured on top.”

 Housekeeper said the congregations wished to have fun while raising money for Kids Against Hunger, so they created the chili cook off to bolster community between the two churches. “We didn’t just want to ask people to contribute money. We wanted to share a meal together and get acquainted,” Housekeeper said. “There was lots of talk over the chili pots. It’s a great way to see people you haven’t seen in awhile.

“It was more fun than anyone expected it to be, and of course the competitive aspects of it made it interesting,” Housekeeper said. “We were all pulling for our churches and trying to win the trophy. Everyone went home with plenty to eat. With a five dollar donation, we use thirty cents of that to make a meal for Kids Against Hunger. Fifteen people are fed whenever someone made a five dollar contribution.”

Laura Stieler of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church won the cook off. She took home a trophy donated by Pete and Dee Dee Barr, which featured a soup ladle on top of a first place statue. The congregations are thinking of making the chili cook off an annual fundraiser, and teaming up once again to participate in the Share the Warmth Program at the Salvation Army, where they would spend the night and make a meal for the homeless in Lenawee County.

“We’re looking out into the community to see what needs to be done in the state, in the nation and in the world,” Housekeeper said. “All of these places will be benefited through the food packets.”

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Tecumseh Herald

 

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