A tasty tradition continues

A chili pot sits ready while United Methodist women, Kitten Cook, Judy Adams, and Barbara Chaffin admire a Christmas door or wall hanging held by Pat Brogdon. The decoration was donated by Melissa Hill and will be raffled while the Methodist women’s organization hosts their Chili Day Luncheon prior to the Caruthersville Christmas Parade on Saturday.

A tradition of eating chili at the Methodist Church, which has long been enjoyed by residents of Caruthersville, will be held from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. in Dorroh Hall at the Eastwood Memorial United Methodist Church on Saturday, Dec. 2.

The tradition was started by the Caruthersville Kiwanis Club. Kathryn Parkinson said she was sure the Chili Day event started more than 50 years ago, as her late husband, Joe Parkinson was involved in the event from the beginning. Since the Kiwanis Club disbanded a few years ago the ladies decided to adopt the project in lieu of the annual fall bazaar.

Chili tickets are $5.00 which includes the choice of dessert and beverage. Tickets are available from the ladies of the church or at the church office from 8 a.m. until noon, through Friday.

The giant Santa raffle item was made and donated by Melissa Hill and is fitted with LED lights. The drawing will be held at the church near the end of the chili day event. Raffle tickets are available from the same sources as the lunch tickets ands also at Caruthersville banks until 5 p.m. on Friday.

In addition to the lunch and raffle, other opportunities will be available. One part of the fellowship hall will be filled with homemade baked goods and candies, while another will offer frozen casseroles prepared by church members.

Funds raised from the project this year will be used for Mission and Outreach projects of the United Methodist Church. Money raised by the group in previous years was donated a few years ago as seed money needed when a major renovation was planned for the church’s kitchen which is a part of Dorroh Hall.

Youth of the church will be helping the ladies serve throughout the event. Other youth that would be helping are in Memphis participating in a 5K run that will benefit St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Barbara Chaffin is currently president of the United Methodist Women’s organization and Pat Brogdon is chairman of the Chili Luncheon which is certain to become an annual event. Both Chaffin and Brogdon emphasized that this event is a project that involves many members of the church and not just the women’s organization.