The First United Methodist Church fellowship hall was filled with diners and the enticing aroma of Lion Dennis Keeling’s award-winning chili Tuesday for the annual Poplar Bluff Lions Club Chili Day.
The annual event began over 25 years ago as a ham and bean dinner changing to chili a few years ago. Chili Day is one of the Lions Club’s three major yearly fundraisers and is held on Election Day each November.
Lion Bill Gresham was busy Tuesday morning loading boxes with containers of chili to be delivered to local businesses calling in to place orders. He said Election Day was chosen years ago as the designated day for the fundraiser because, “there would be a lot of people out and they could vote and get lunch at the same time.”
The group expected to deliver over 350 take out orders and serve over 1,000 bowls of chili to customers on Tuesday, said Lion Joe Farmer. At 74, Farmer is the oldest active Lions Club member and started with the Poplar Bluff chapter in the early 1970s.
The club begins chili day preparations two months in advance, said Lion Allen Payne, 39-year member.
Local Girl Scouts troops from Poplar Bluff and Ellsinore also lent their skills to the club, prepping take out bags, cleaning and helping with desserts on Monday evening.
The Lions Club uses the monies raised to benefit the Lions Club International Foundation’s SightFirst programs and local charitable needs. The club’s sight programs help develop and improve eye care systems and treatments at home and all over the world.