Chilifest turns up the heat fundraising

This year’s ChiliFest brought community members from around Essex county together to enjoy good chili, good cake and good works.

The ChiliFest hosted by the South Essex Community Council at the Leamington Portuguese Community Club was a fundraiser event to help raise money for the SECC’s accessible transit program. The program needs a new set of wheels to transport people to their desired locations.

“It makes a fantastic community event because the community really comes together in the sense that everything here is donated,” said Stephen Gard, a volunteer at the event. “From sponsorships, to prizes to all of our chilis and soups, it’s really and truly a community event.”

This event started 24 years ago, SECC has been a beneficiary of the event since 2006 according to Gard.

“It’s long established by a long standing committee of volunteers,” said Gard. “Many of whom are still helping out today, they’ve established it, I think it’s the perfect time of year, every single ChiliFest something with the weather seems to happen, so a snowy day like today, it’s the perfect time for chili.”

On a brisk, but cold day in February this event served a hot meal to those willing to pay the price. As stomachs filled and pots emptied, the event attracted 350 to 400 people through the doors by the end of the day.