Charity holds chili cook-off at Ballpark

    Chili and salsa lovers can grab their sporks and head to The Pavilion at The Ballpark in Arlington for the Second Annual Texas Independent Chili Cook-off.

    The annual chili cook-off, sponsored by the Helping Restore Ability (HRA) organization, will be held from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 25.

    The event is open to anybody wanting to enjoy the weekend and help a good cause, an organization representative said. General admission is free and the cook-off features both local and Chili Appreciation Society International (CASI) contests.

    Becoming a contestant requires a small donation based on the entry. Youth cooks are also welcome.

    “The local competition is for anybody off the street who thinks they make great chili,” Dave Watson, HRA executive director, said.
    “They are allowed to have any ingredients whereas the CASI sanctioned competition has rules, one of which prohibits the use of beans,” he said.

    In addition to the cook-off, there will be raffle drawings, crafts, entertainment and other activities for the whole family.

    All proceeds benefit the HRA, a non-profit organization that provides over 120,000 hours of non-medical assistance each year to severely disabled adults in the North Texas Area.

    The HRA, founded in 1977, was previously known as the Handicapped Resource Association.

    “Going into our second year, we have high expectations because of last year’s great turn out,” Watson said.

    For more information, to obtain an entry form or to find out about assistance eligibility, contact the HRA at 817-469-1977.