Enjoying lunch at the Chili Challenge Wednesday is a way to support the Hubbard County Food Shelf, while connecting with friends and community members.
Samples of a variety of chilis from 22 teams from throughout the area will be available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6 at the Park Rapids American Legion for $1 per serving.
Homemade cookies and bars and water will also be served, and there will be a raffle for a quilt donated by the Crazy Quilters.
Teams will be competing for awards and will also be accepting cash donations at their table during the Chili Challenge.
The event is sponsored by the American Legion, Living at Home of the Park Rapids Area, the Park Rapids Enterprise, the Lions Club, the Rotary Club, Prudential Insurance, De La Hunt Media and Nei Bottling.
Jean Ruzicka and Candy Parks are former employees of the Park Rapids Enterprise who started the Chili Challenge. Now retired, they continue to help with the event, which is in its 13th year.
“When we started the Chili Challenge, the food shelf was struggling,” Ruzicka said. “Many organizations and businesses have stepped up to the plate, or stepped up to the bowl I should say, now compared to when we first started and it was just the Enterprise doing it. There are many returning teams this year and a few new ones.”
“It’s a great cause,” Parks said. “I’m very passionate about helping people and it’s a good way to give back. It’s a great time to join friends and family and come out with the community. It has grown every year. It’s fun for a good cause.”
Connie Carmichael of Living at Home of the Park Rapids Area is one of the Chili Challenge committee members who has been active in the cause for many years.
“Our community comes together to help bridge the gap of food insecurity,” she said. “This fundraiser goes a long way in providing funding to our local food shelf. The teams are made up of individuals who believe in the cause of having a fun Chili Challenge to raise money for the food shelf. There are also businesses and other nonprofits participating to help with the cause of raising money for our local food shelf.”
In 2023, the food shelf served 961 households in Hubbard County, providing a total of 452,700 pounds of food. That was a 37% increase compared to 2022.
Donations to the food shelf are another way to help.
“We get an allocation of funds based on the percentage of funds and food that we get donated from Feb. 26 to April 8 compared to all of the other food shelves in the state,” food shelf director Bob Hansen said.
Checks made out to the Hubbard County Food Shelf may be dropped off during food shelf hours (Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.) or mailed to Hubbard County Food Shelf, 308 Pleasant Ave. S., Park Rapids, MN, 56470
Donations of money or food may also be dropped off during food shelf hours. Volunteers are needed to pick up groceries from stores and to help at the food shelf. Call 218-732-1282 for more information.
Lorie Skarpness has lived in the Park Rapids area since 1997 and has been writing for the Park Rapids Enterprise since 2017. She enjoys writing features about the people and wildlife who call the north woods home.
