Firefighters cookoff will benefit participating VFDs

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Firefighters Debby Steadman, right, and David Ortega, left, volunteer at the annual Firefighters Cookoff held in Whitewright each year. Organizers said they hope area volunteer firefighters will participate in the fundraiser which benefits VFDs. Courtesy photo

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October 10, 2012

Firefighters cookoff will benefit participating VFDs

Staff Report Gainesville Daily Register The Daily Register Wed Oct 10, 2012, 08:23 AM CDT

Whitewright — The third annual Firefighters Cookoff, benefiting north Texas volunteer fire departments, is set for Nov. 3.

In 2011, state officials cut funding to local volunteer fire departments by 75 percent for 2012-2013, leaving children, property, wildlife and firefighters at great risk.

Yet, when paged, they leave their own families to help others — usually without adequate personal protection, supplies and equipment, and certainly without pay.

When tornados and other disasters occur and everyone is seeking safety, volunteer firefighters get prepared. They are usually the first first-responders to arrive at the scenes.

The vision of the Firefighters Cookoff, created in 2010, is to become a substantial funding source for north Texas volunteer fire departments and to help them be the best-trained, best-equipped and fastest first responders they can possibly be.

The event is endorsed by the State Firemen's and Fire Marshals' Association of Texas, giving it a nonprofit status. It is hosted by the Whitewright Chamber of Commerce as part of the city’s Grand Street Fall Festival; chamber officials allocate space for the cookoff and promote it, accepting no compensation). The cookoff is also sanctioned and refereed by the Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI).

Income is derived from contestant registration fees; raffle sales; ticket sales; miscellaneous sales at the event; personal donations; and corporate sponsors. All proceeds, after expenses, are divided equally among participating volunteer fire departments (they qualify by entering the chili competition) — and checks are written direct to the departments so their members can purchase what they need.

CASI, also a nonprofit organization, requires a small amount of the proceeds to cover their expenses; otherwise, other than expenses to run the cook-off, everything goes to the departments. The registration fee is $20.

There are more than $1,500 in award prizes, raffles and door prizes available, provided by merchants in north central Texas and national manufacturers.

The fall festival attracts 3,000 visitors, and public tickets are $5 per person.

For more information, visit www.grandstreetfallfestival.com or call (903)-364-2000.