Chili and charity
Chili fans from around Cache Valley were introduced to a winning recipe: two parts beans, one part meat and three parts burning desire to eliminate child abuse.
On Saturday a silent auction, raffle tickets and voting for the best chili, made the fifth annual Children’s Justice Center Chili Cook Off a satisfying evening.
The Chili Cook Off was designed by the Friends Committee of the Children’s Justice Center (CJC) to raise money for abused and neglected children in Cache County.
The Friends Committee passed around fliers announcing the chili cook off a few weeks before to local restaurants. A total of 12 restaurants donated chili for the event, Café Sabor, Café Ibis, Angie’s, Village Inn, Wendy’s, Utah State University catering, Eddie’s Drive-In, The Coppermill, Einstein’s Bros, The White Owl Tavern, Chili’s and Blue Sage.
Everyone who came was able to choose their favorite chili and vote for it.
Each pot of chili had small portion cups in front of them filled by the Wellsville Youth Council.
“This is the second year the Wellsville youth council has helped serve the chili and they’ve been a big help,” said Friend’s Committee president, Janna Anderson.
Some people sampled all the different flavors of chili while others only tasted the mild varieties.
Several attendees tried all of the types, and later filled their bowl with their favorite kind. After choosing a chili, onions and cheddar cheese were provided to pile on top of it.
Cornbread, French bread and brownies were also some chili side items all donated by Albertson’s and Lee’s Marketplace, said Sandy Checketts, a volunteer for the Friends Committee. Café Ibis donated coffee for the event.
At the end of the night the winners were announced. The Fireman’s choice was Einstein’s, law enforcement’s favorite was from the Coppermill and people’s choice was The White Owl.
Many people bought raffle tickets and entered silent auctions. There were many children centered gift packages in the silent auction.
“We didn’t plan on spending that much but it’s for a good cause,” said Brenda Chung, who attended the event. Chung with her husband bought raffle tickets and won several prizes from both the drawings and the silent auction including Utah Jazz tickets second row from the floor.
The Chili Cook Off was the Friends Committee’s main fundraiser of the year.
“We made almost $3,000 last year and I hope we made more this year,” said Anderson who has been on the board for six years and has been serving as the president for two.
The director of the Cache County Children’s Justice Center is Mike Stauffer. The director runs the CJC while the Friends Committee’s primary purpose is fundraising.
“Our job is to raise money,” said Lisa Keller, Vice President of the Friends Committee.
Other fundraisers are: an annual Teddy Bear run and a Classic Car Show in the Albertson’s parking lot in July.
At the CJC abused and neglected children can get the support they need. The CJC has a child-friendly atmosphere with couches and stuffed animals in the front room where these kids can find help. The CJC conducts audio and video taped interviews for abused children to eliminate multiple interviews and ensure accuracy.
“The kids don’t have to relay experiences,” Keller said. Children normally have to go to a physician for a medical exam, then to a lawyer to testify, but with the CJC they can save money and time by doing it all in one place.
The Cache County CJC is located at 1362 North 400 West. in Logan.
Saturday there will be free children’s hearing and ear exams from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. at the Cache Valley Ear Nose & Throat area of the new specialty hospital located at 2380 North 400 East. The ear exams will take place in the doctor’s offices of Jeffrey Bennion, Gordon Wood and James Blotter in Suite D.
-ranaebang@cc.usu.edu