Chili Dinner

Event details

Friday | January 24, 2020
4:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Menomonee Falls High School Cafeteria N80W14350 Titan Dr, Menomonee Falls, WI 53051

It was another successful year for the annual Optimist Chili Dinner. Despite the subzero temperatures on Friday January 25, 2018, we were able to feed 505 people. Raising almost $6000 and having less than 3 gallons of chili left at the end.

We started Thursday afternoon into the evening cooking up 90 – 100 gallons of chili. Thanks to all who helped open cans, (72 in total), chop vegetables, fry hamburger, stir and clean up. With a special thanks to Shannon Dederich who was able to find 5 volunteers to help us.

Friday starts at 9:00 am dumping the chili into the large steam kettles, then letting it simmer all day. Thanks to Kathy Matthiessen, Matt Goile, and Sue Carney for watching so we had no eruptions. Thanks to everyone who stirred, wrapped hot dogs, filled containers, poured drinks, served and kept everything flowing. Thanks to those who took money/tickets and ran our 3 raffles. Thanks to our Kohl’s volunteers for helping people to their tables and cleaning up. Thanks to those who washed and dried dishes and stayed until the bitter end to help load everything up. Thanks also to the Afer 5, and SLBL club members who came to help out.

We were able to secure $1395 in donations. We had $4817.50 in advanced ticket sales, and $611 ticket sales at the door. Our two raffle baskets brought in $262 dollars and our 50/50 raffle brought in $250. With our expenses at $1558 it brings our net income to $5776. We still have an outstanding bill and a few outstanding ticket sales so a more accurate count will come later.

Our raffle basket winners were, Night Out (worth $380) Carl Trapp, Candy Tower (worth 5 cavities) John Spohnholtz. Our 50/50 raffle winner was Dave Glasgow, Menomonee Falls village president. He has decided to donate his half back to the club, thanks Dave.

I couldn’t put this thing on without my committee Rose Schwartz, Tom Wagner, Sue Carney and Kathy Matthiessen.

If you still have tickets please get them or a donation back to me. If you have any suggestions for the future please let us know. If you want to participate next year, we start in September of this year, just give us a call, all are welcome.