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Bobby Neal ladles chili into a bowl for a hungry attendee of the Help-A-Child Benefit Saturday at the Civic Center. It was Neal's first time participating in the annual chili cook-off since he usually cooks stew at the Hopkins County Stew Contest. Neal's chili managed to take first place this year. Staff photo by Todd Kleiboer
$56,000 raised from raffle alone
Its 14th year might prove to be the Help-A-Child Benefit’s best, organizer Wade Bartley hopes, as significant headway was made toward the event’s goal of $100,000 donated in the raffle alone, but final numbers are still coming in.
According to Bartley, $56,000 was raised from the raffle alone, and he is still tabulating numbers.
“I feel like we’re going to get close on that,” Bartley said. “Everyone took to pitching in.”
This year’s goal is set much higher than 2019’s donation total of $60,000, and if last year showed anything, it showed this region’s resilience as a smaller event raised $59,000.
“We expected a shortfall [last year],” Bartley said. “The community came through.”
This year featured a new calf show, and going into the event, Bartley said expectations were set low, saying “15 to 20 calves” were thought to be shown. However, 106 participants showed their calves at the Civic Center Equine Pavilion Saturday morning.
The number of contestants in the three cook-offs, the biggest being the chili contest, have stayed consistent, Bartley said, and the good crowd was partly thanks to many area Masonic Lodges participating in the benefit.
For the first time, $1,500 will be donated to those Lodges, Bartley said, that will then apply for matching donations from the Texas Masonic Charities Foundation to use for their scholarships. With Lodges from Commerce to Mount Vernon to Sulphur Bluff taking part, the event not only helps local foster families and other charities but aids in securing higher education for area students.
“We get lots of support from the other counties,” Bartley said. “I’m thankful to all the community around the area.”
At the benefit Saturday, checks of $5,000 were given to three local foster families: the McCoys of Sulphur Springs, the Mosses of Winnsboro and the Wedekings of Quitman. Other funds will go toward Northeast Texas Child Advocacy Center and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, which turns 100 this year.
RESULTS
Best Beans
• First place: Wayne Bartley and Larry Rose
Best Brisket
• First place: MoDuff ’s Bar-B-Que
• Second place: Wayne Bartley and Larry Rose
• Third place: Sulphur Springs High School Construction
Best Chili
• First place: Bobby Neal
• Second place: Roadkill BBQ
• Third place: Lucky You Chili
Projects
• Arts and Crafts: First and second to Como-Pickton FCCLA
• Cookies: First place to Saltillo FCCLA
• Ag Mech: Honorable mentions to SSHS Construction and Sulphur Springs FFA, first place to Como-Pickton FFA