Chili cook off raises $8,200 for Rescue Mission

Proceeds from the annual Mason Dixon Chili Society’s Chili Cook Off Friday and Saturday at the Black River Coliseum are still being counted, but approximately $8,200 has been raised so far.

Sandy Wood, a member of the Mason Dixon Chili Society and vice president of First Missouri State Bank, said, “We are still waiting on some of the money to come in, but it looks like we raised approximately $8,200. This was a bit of a down year. We think having to cancel last year due to COVID, and some still having concerns about COVID, caused our team number to be down. We had a larger crowd from the public this year, but the number of teams was down about five teams.”

Teams competing had several opportunities to win.

Judges Choice Best Chili winners were first, Sunset Pool & Spa; second, Kohlfeld Distributing; and third, Aire Solutions.

People’s Choice awards were first, Air Solutions; second, Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland; and third, Southern Bank.

Prizes for the Best Decorated Booth went to first, Sterling Bank; second, Poplar Bluff Junior High School; and third, Butler County Commissioners.

The Team Spirit Award went to Boys & Girls Club of the Heartland.

Fundraising winners were first, Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center; second, Greenwall Vending; and third, Greg Gilberto - PB Blessed/Prayer Stop.

Wood said, the society wants to “thank our sponsors” Kohlfeld Distributing, Southeast Sign & Graphics, Stinson Press, the band - Just Us (This is Wade Pierce and his group. They have been there the last several years and do a great job), Rushin Towing, Spectra Trophies, Smith & Company, Scott Law Group, Sterling Insurance, First Missouri State Bank, SYSCO and Greenwall Vending.

The chili judges were Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center CEO Rick Naegler, Krista Naegler, Tim O’Neal, Mike Clark, Sally Clark, Steve Rhodes, Gene Merriman, Kara Cummings and Amber Tinker.

Booth Judges were Emily Thurman and Steve Whitworth.

United Gospel Rescue Mission Executive Director Gregory Kirk described the cook off as “a wonderful event. There was a lot of people. We appreciate the support of Poplar Bluffians who come and help with having good events.”

The money from the event goes into the general fund and according to Kirk, “Everything counts. Every little bit counts. A few thousand here, a few thousand there turns out to be a bunch of money.”

The pastor explained while the proceeds are needed and used wisely, “I really look at the event more as a friend raiser than a fundraiser. They had some teams that were brand new. They got to hear from me what the mission is doing, how we’re spending our money, what we’re doing. So it’s really great time to talk about the mission at a fun event.”

The mission takes care of the men who, through circumstances of life, have fallen through the cracks of society, Kirk said. Those coming out of prison, and those who due to addictions, broken family situations, job loss, life problems and wounds can still find a place of love, care and a chance for a new life.

“We do this through our one-year residential New Life program, which offers hope and healing to those men caught in the throes of alcohol or drug addiction,” he said. “It is only through the cleansing power of our Lord Jesus Christ that men can truly be free. We teach them how to find Christ and have Him hold an active place in their hearts. While the program is free, all men are expected to complete daily tasks during their stay, thus training them to find employment, and become citizens that are grateful and successful.

Kirk said, “While working with drug/alcohol addicted men is first and foremost in the ministry of the United Gospel Rescue Mission, we are also extremely active in our community in other ways. We are not a social organization in the strict sense of the word, but we do the best social work in our county. Annually, the mission serves approximately 60,000 daily meals, provides more than 7000 nights of shelter each year, and it is only possible because of the individuals, churches and businesses of this community who make the ministry possible.

The mission serves a public lunch at noon Monday-Friday. This meal is at no charge.

Christian Social Services help with utility deposits, household goods and various other needs.

The New Life Program is free of charge.

Thanksgiving and Christmas banquets are served at the Kay Porter House and for those who are unable to visit the Kay Porter House may schedule meal deliveries for the holidays.

The Mason Dixon Chili Society’s Chili Cook Off committee members said, they would like to thank the Daily American Republic newspaper for its coverage of the event.

“We are extremely grateful for the time, effort and the publicity the DAR gives to this event and other charitable causes in this community,” committee members said. “The success of events like this is directly related to having a newspaper like the DAR who truly cares about our community. When a charitable event succeeds, we’re all better because of it.”