Members of Northwestern Local Schools’ chapter of the Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) recently hosted their annual Chili Cook-Off fundraiser to help support the Ronald McDonald House charity.
Community members were invited to donate a pot of their favorite chili into the Cook-Off. A total of eleven pots of chili were entered. Attendees paid $1.00 to taste each chili then voted for their favorite recipe. The winner won a new Crock-Pot and ladle. The FCCLA raised $101.00 at the event.
Northwestern’s FCCLA chapter will travel to the Ronald McDonald House during a field trip on Feb. 12 to prepare the winning chili recipe for the families staying there. The Ronald McDonald House serves families who need a place to stay during the treatment of their critically-ill and hospitalized children.
The FCCLA is a nonprofit national student organization for students through grade twelve taking Family and Consumer Sciences classes in public and private schools. FCCLA helps members focus on their multiple roles of family member, wage earner, and community leader. Community service projects like the Chili Cook-off help members develop positive character, creative and critical thinking skills, interpersonal communication, practical knowledge, and career preparation skills.
According to senior and FCCLA member, Ash Lee Damron, the annual Chili Cook-Off project is based on the requirements for an FCCLA “STAR” (Students Taking Action with Recognition) event.
FCCLA members plan and complete projects for individual and team STAR events and present them at the FCCLA Regional Rally competition. Members are recognized for proficiency and achievement in chapter and individual projects, leadership skills, and career preparation. High scorers present their projects in the State competition.
Junior Ann Buffenbarger is President of Northwestern’s FCCLA chapter. Sophmore Madison Dennis serves as Vice President and Senior Megan Jackson serves as Communications Officer. Damron and Jackson coordinated the Chili Cook-Off event. Ms. Kendra Rarick serves as the FCCLA advisor.
More information about the Northwestern FCCLA chapter can be found on the group’s Facebook page, “Northwestern FCCLA.”
