Spice up your February with the 19th Annual Mason-Dixon Chili Cook-Off

The Mason-Dixon Chili Society is gearing up for the 19th Annual Chili Cook-Off from 10:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at the Black River Coliseum.

The society is searching for teams, sponsors and volunteers to help with the event, which will benefit the United Gospel Rescue Mission.

Cook-off chairman Joe Leahy said, 10 teams already have registered and three sponsors are involved.

“The number of teams participating in the past has ranged from the mid-20s to 32, but we have room for 40 teams, “ Leahy said.

Early bird pricing is $100 for booth space if a team has registered by Feb. 1. Late entries will pay $125 for a booth. The Cooks’ Party will be Friday, Feb. 21.

Leahy likes being a part of the society since “it helps the United Gospel Rescue Mission, which is a good cause.”

Society members are “a really good group of people, but we would not be able to do it if it was not for the Black River Coliseum.”

Sponsorship levels are: The Big Chili, $5,000; Ghost Pepper, $2,000; Habanero Pepper, $1,000; Jalapeno Pepper, $500; and Poblano Pepper, $300.

All sponsors get one free team, and if they register by Feb. 1, they will be listed on the T-shirts.

“Teams and sponsors can still register up until the week before the event, but they will not have their names on everything,” Leahy said.

Organizers say a team may start with a bang by winning the first award, which is for fundraising before the event begins.

The Fundraising Award is earned in advance and the first, second, and place winners will receive $200, $100, $50, plus a plaque for each of the three teams who raise the most in donations and pledges for the rescue mission before the actual day of the cook-off. Pledge forms must be received the day before the cook-off to be counted.

Teams and sponsors are important ingredients in the event.

“We definitely need volunteers to help,” Leahy said.

Food donations including main dishes or sides, as well as sodas, water, and energy drinks, are needed for Friday night and Saturday.

Friday night, approximately 200 will be in attendance.

“Everything is appreciated,” Leahy said.

Attendance on the day of the event is free to the public and donations are appreciated.

More information, team entry forms, as well as sponsorship forms, are available by contacting: joel@shsmithco.com or jerry.wawak@gmail.com.

Funds raised at the cook-off are used by the mission to help hundreds of hurting and homeless individuals who need help to overcome life-challenging barriers to successful and happy lives, according to organizers.

Some need practical help with food, shelter, clothing and case management. Others need spiritual assistance and counseling to overcome addiction, legal issues, past traumas, mental illness and other life-challenging barriers to success.

UGRM, donors and volunteers serve an average of 20 homeless men, and 150 individuals from the community each day, sharing Christ’s love through the services and various programs, according to UGRM.

The mission provides a variety of services to men, women and children in the community. These include a free public lunch at noon Monday-Friday and food boxes for needy individuals over 60 years old each month who are on a limited income and unable to get the food they need. The mission distributes funding and goods through Christian Social Services.

UGRM provides approximately 60,000 meals annually to community members, homeless guests and residents in the New Life Discipleship Program.

On Thanksgiving and Christmas, banquets are prepared and served at the mission’s Kay Porter House dining hall and delivers free on those days to those who are unable to attend the events.