Photo: Gerald Martineau
Her "Jailhouse Chili" won Betsey Wildhack grand champion of the annual Arlington County Democratic Party "Joint Campaign" Chili Cookoff.
For over two decades, Arlington Democrats have gathered together at the Lyon Park Community Center on N. 4th Street to stuff their bellies full of chili and beer. But this year was different. They also ate pie.
(See our slideshow.)
The annual event is a fundraiser of different sorts. One part of the event focused on Democratic Values in Action, a charitable arm of the Arlington County Democratic Party. DVA has been collecting school supplies for needy area kids and boxes of cereal to be donated to the Arlington Food Assistance Center.
They have raised two large boxes of school supplies and are about halfway to reaching their goal of 150 boxes of cereal, said Kim Klingler, an organizer of the event.
The other half of the fundraiser is the traditional party rush. Labor Day is the kickoff to the political season, and the chili cookoff is designed to get the faithful energized and to raise money for the various races, Klingler said.
Tickets to the chili cookoff and pie eating contest started at $35. Klingler said they still do not have a final tally of the amount raised.
AFAC donations can be made through Kim Klingler. School donation can be made through Noah Simon.