The Whitesville Lions Club is preparing to host one of its most beloved traditions — the annual Chili Supper & Pie Auction — on April 25 at the Whitesville Senior Citizen Center.
Doors open at 5 p.m. for dinner, featuring homemade chili, hot dogs, and drinks. The live auction will kick off at 6 p.m. Proceeds from the event will benefit Wendell Foster and Puzzle Pieces, two local nonprofits serving individuals with disabilities.
Cathy Roby with the Lions Club said the event has been going strong for more than 25 years, thanks to strong community support and a spirit of giving that surrounds the fundraiser each spring.
“The Lions Club members make the chili, and we get pie and cake donations from all over the community,” Roby said. “Parents and staff from Wendell Foster and Puzzle Pieces contribute, and a lot of folks from Whitesville chip in, too.”
Pies and cakes can be dropped off beginning at 4 p.m., when volunteers begin labeling and arranging the treats ahead of the auction.
While there’s no official fundraising goal, past events have seen overwhelming generosity. One year, Roby recalled, a single pineapple upside-down cake brought in $1,500. In another, the club raised $20,000 in just three hours.
“Sometimes, people running for office come out and bid against each other, and that makes it a lot of fun,” Roby said. “We just try to build excitement in the weeks leading up to it, and the community always shows up for these two organizations.”
For more information, visit the Whitesville Lions Club Facebook page or reach out to a club member.
