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Chili cook-off draws hundreds
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PROJECT CHILI COOK-OFF: Zack Lord and his mom, Karen Lord, both of Hubbard, stir a batch of their white-chicken chili. The Lords are a part of Project: Serving Soldiers, a service organization that helps soldiers overseas.
By Elise Franco
The cook-off proceeds go toward legal bills of the group opposed to a landfill in Hubbard.
HUBBARD — Several hundred people from Hubbard and surrounding communities donated $5 and a few hours of their Saturday evening for all the chili they could eat.
The fifth annual chili cook-off at St. Patrick Church hall on Main Street was hosted by Hubbard Environmental and Land Preservation in an effort to raise money for legal fees in the organization’s fight against a landfill on Drummond Avenue that would take in construction and demolition debris, said Rick Hernandez, who founded HELP with David Wittenauer.
Hernandez said the turnout for this year’s cook-off was even larger than last year, and with 25 chili recipes entered in the contest, he expected to raise more than $5,000.
“We’ve put out $110,000 in legal fees in seven years,” he said of why this fundraiser is important to HELP. “We’re all nonprofit, and everything has been donated.”
Hernandez said in addition to raising money, the event gives HELP members the opportunity to spread awareness about the landfill issue.
“We’ve become a dumping ground for the rest of the country, along with Stark and other counties,” he said. “As long as our efforts here keep this thing at bay, we’re doing what we’re supposed to.”
Second-year chili competitors Karen and Zack Lord of Hubbard said they are used to giving back to those in need. Zack Lord said he began an organization called Project: Serving Soldiers in November 2008 and was thrilled when HELP members contacted him to join the cook-off last year.
“We were so excited they called us to be a part of it again this year,” he said. “It really lets people know about the situation, and the people of Hubbard really do care.”
Zack Lord said his team made a white-chicken chili that he hopes will take home one of the three prizes.
Hernandez said the winner is decided by popular vote from those attending.
The top chili cook gets a trophy and $100, second place gets a $50 gas card, and third place gets a $25 Visa gift card.
Jerry Noark of Niles said he came down to the cook-off to show support for the organization and to try out the variety of chili.
“You can’t beat the price to try all the different chili plus it gives my wife a night off from cooking,” he joked.
“It also draws people together, and it helps with their cause,”
efranco@vindy.com