Chili cook-off shoes needy children

Carson City Jaycees gathered $3,000 in gift cards to buy shoes for needy children through their Happy Feet Chili Cook-off.

Laurie Brown said the cook-off had eight chili and six salsa entries attracted a steady stream of people to the downtown Carson City event.

First place for chili when to Gold Diggers Chili by Bonnie Olson-Silva. Second place when to Kick Ass Chili prepared by Tequila Dan's Dan Hague and the people's choice was Ross Miller's Finger Pull Chili, which Brown said was made with buffalo meat.

In the salsa category, the winner was JCI Senate Salsa by Arlene Keller. Scott Brown's Downtown Brown salsa won second place. People's choice award went to Terry Manning's TJ's Salsa. Brown said Manning is a stained glass vendor who made salsa from her home-grown tomatoes.

The Jaycees use the money they raise to buy gift cards from Payless Shoe Source.

They distribute the cards to Advocates to End Domestic Violence, Carson Hispanic Services, Child Protection Services and plan on reaching out to the middle schools.

The club was able to purchase 150 $20 gift cards.

"We had great donations and it was a good day," Brown said.

In addition to the food, Court Appointed Special Advocates brought their wheeled kiosk out along with Bubbles the Clown.

Anyone interested in the shoes program should contact Brown at 882-7207.

In addition to the chili cook-off, the Jaycees have sponsored the annual Easter Egg hunt in the spring.