Athens police officers support community event by making a tasty dish
ATHENS-Athens police officers support community event by making a tasty dish
Athens police officers take the police term “protect and serve” another step by serving up award-winning batches of chili.
For the past two years, the Athens Police Department has won the Best Group Award at the Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge and Silent Auction. Chief Floyd Johnson said his men and women in blue will vie for a three-peat this year at the 27th annual event.
The Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge will be Saturday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Athens High School’s old gym.
“Our staff has enjoyed getting together to choose our recipe, build the booth and interact with the community,” Johnson said. “We’ve always felt this is a good community event, a great cause, and we are proud we have an opportunity to support it.”
The Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge and Silent Auction is the main fundraiser for Hospice of Limestone County, the only non-profit hospice service in Limestone. Hospice serves about 40 patients a month. Services these funds support include in-home respite workers, indigent care that is non-funded care and non-Hospice bereavement counseling. Money raised also funds Camp Home, a bereavement support program for children.
Johnson said Athens Police holds its own mini-Chili Challenge within the department, and employees sample a variety of recipes and choose whose recipe will be used for the Hospice competition.
“We started that in 2012, and I think that helps us enter the competition with a recipe that has already been put to the test,” Johnson said.
Pat King, executive director of Hospice of Limestone County, said there are 32 challenger slots available each year. In addition to Best Group, there are awards for Best Individual, Best Booth and the coveted People’s Choice.
Chili Challenge Chairwoman Amanda Speegle said the Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge event is as diverse among its challengers as chili is with ingredients.
“Seeing police officers, high school students, Relay for Life organizers, business leaders and others come together to compete against each other with their cooking skills yet supporting one cause is part of the joy I get participating in the event,” Speegle said.
Chili Bites
Here is the perfect recipe for participating in and enjoying the 27th annual Hospice of Limestone County Chili Challenge and Silent Auction:
● Save the date
Saturday, Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Athens High School’s old gym.
● Tickets
Cost is $10. Children under 10 get in free. Tickets are available at the door or before the event or at Hospice at 405 S. Marion St. Your ticket includes lunch served at 11 a.m.; entertainment; tasting chili samples from the 32 competitors and voting for your favorite until 1:45 p.m.; and bidding on auction items until 1:30 p.m.
● Become a challenger
To enter as a challenger, call the Hospice Office at (256) 232-5017 as soon as possible.
● Sponsor the event
Sponsorships are categorized as the following: Friend of Spice Sponsor, $50; Chili Pepper Patron, $50- $99; Ring of Fire Giver $100-$199; Tempt the Taste Buds Supporter, $200-$500; One Hot Tamale, $500+. Call 256-232-5017 for more information.
● Donate to the Silent Auction
Donate goods or services, hand-made craft items, free art lessons, furniture, automobile service, hardware items, reserved tickets to sporting events, outdoor items, or a weekend at a beach front condo. Drop off items at Hospice at 405 S. Marion St., or call 256-232-5017 to have an item picked up.
● Parking
Parking is not allowed in the fire zone in front of the gym entrance. Please park in designated parking spaces. A Limestone County Sheriff’s Department deputy will drive a van loaned by the district attorney’s office to transport the elderly and handicapped from their parking space to the entrance and back.
● Entering the event
No one will be allowed in the event without a ticket. The only entrance will the front of the school by the old gym. Other doors can be used as exits but will be locked to prohibit outside entry.
● Auction protocol
Please be courteous when bidding on items. Bidding will end at 1:30 p.m. If an item has a tag that says it must be picked up the day of the auction, if you do not pick it up, organizers will call the next highest bidder. If your item does not specify same day pickup, please retrieve it from Hospice as soon as possible.
● T-shirts
T-shirts are available at Hospice. Short sleeve $12, long sleeve $17, and 2X short sleeve $17. Youth sizes are $10.
● More Info
For more information, call Hospice at 256-232-5017.
