Like many non-profits this year, The Baltimore Station had to revamp and restructure one of its largest fundraisers, Stars, Stripes & Chow: Chili Edition, to ensure the safety of its supporters, staff and residents. The organization, which supports individuals, primarily veterans, dealing with homelessness and substance use disorder by providing residential and community-based therapy programs, brought back the chili cook-off but with a twist, bringing some of the region’s top-rated chili recipes right into the comfort of supporters’ own homes by offering chili kits for sale. The Baltimore Station partnered with Zeffert and Gold Catering and Event Planning who prepared and packaged the chili kits.
With nearly 300 chili kit purchases, The Baltimore Station raised approximately $58,000 for residents of The Baltimore Station, who will immediately benefit from the funds. Each chili kit came with four pints of unique chili from The Baltimore Station’s four award-winning teams—Fortego, Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA), the Nelson Family and Praxis; four cornbread muffins and fixings like shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and diced onions. In an effort to bring some of the most popular features of the in-person event to life, each kit came with four cupcakes and patriotic kids’ activity bags.
Emerging as the “People’s Choice” winner, as voted on by chili kit purchasers, was the Nelson Family, who also won “Top Fundraiser” for raising more than $10,000 for the organization. The “Judges’ Choice” award, selected by residents of The Baltimore Station, went to the Maryland Multi-Housing Association (MMHA).
“Although this year’s chili cook-off was much different than past years, we were overwhelmed by the response from our supporters,” said Christie Walsh-Myers, event chair and past president of the Board of Directors at The Baltimore Station. “Not only did the teams go above and beyond with their recipes but they worked hard to sell as many kits as possible. It’s amazing to see the generosity and support that is given to the residents and the impact it has on our organization.”
About The Baltimore Station
The Baltimore Station provides therapeutic residential and community-based outpatient treatment programs to individuals—primarily veterans—dealing with homelessness and substance use disorder. Its innovative programming helps break the cycle of poverty and supports individuals as they become self-sufficient members of society. Accredited by one of the nation’s most prestigious accrediting bodies for rehabilitation facilities, The Baltimore Station is the area’s largest VA funded Grant and Per Diem (GPD) program and the only long-term residential program, providing up to 24 months of clinical care and life skills development to encourage a smoother transition to the real world and guaranteed lifelong success. In addition to its residential program, The Baltimore Station provides outpatient programming to provide therapeutic relapse prevention services to those recovering from substance use disorder and also workforce development programming that provides residential services that facilitate stabilization and transition to permanent housing and sustainable income. At The Baltimore Station, we turn lives around. www.baltimorestation.org.
