The Seventh Annual CJSO Charity Community Chili Cook-off Fundraiser was held at the Oak Creek Community Center on March 25. The MATC Criminal Justice Student Organization (CJSO) sponsored the event, which was open to the public. Prices for the chili were $3 for a bowl and $15, or $10 with student ID, for all-you-can-eat.
There were 22 varieties of chili to sample and choose the winner from. All of the kinds, ranging from mild to fire, were very good and it was difficult to choose the best one. There were many favorites like Arron Schramm’s Deer Camp Chili, Tim Mucarello’s Chocolate Beer Texas Chili and Maricella Garcia’s Sofrito Chili. Local businesses Culver’s and Bootz Saloon were also participants. Jim Dailey, MATC instructor of Police Technology, was the winner with his JD’s Smokin’ Hot Wagon Chili.
There was also a silent auction for bidding on many great items such as wine, sports memorabilia, gun range passes, humidors with cigars, gift certificates, wildlife art, and a beautiful handmade bar table with a carved Bucky Badger on the tabletop.
All the proceeds of the event went to an organization called POST. Established by Milwaukee Police Officers in 1986, POST serves all members of the law enforcement community, including officers returning from or in active military duty and their families, regardless of jurisdiction or department. The Police Officer Support Team (POST) provides members of the law enforcement community, who may be suffering from emotional, personal, physical or stress-related difficulties, access to high-quality support services so they have an opportunity to work at resolving any difficulties they may be experiencing.
The Police Officer Support Team exists to provide a voluntary and confidential outlet for officers, employees and families who have a need to talk about concerns they have with their job, home situations or both. The day after the cook-off, the CJSO delivered all the remaining silent auction items to the winners. A total of $5,000 was raised for POST.