United Campus Ministries will hold its annual Chili Fest as a “chili to go” event from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 20, at St. Mark United Church of Christ, 475 S. Fruitridge Ave., Terre Haute. Guests may pre-order meals online until 5 p.m. March 18, and parking lot orders will be taken on Sunday during the event.
In order to minimize contact, guests are encouraged to pre-order meals online at https://ucm.betterworld.org. Click on “Annual Chilifest 2022 Drive Thru,” then click the blue box marked “Tickets.” Choose your meal options, then click on “Proceed to Checkout” and pay with either credit or debit card. Orders placed at the church will be cash or check only.
On Sunday, March 20, all guests will enter the church parking lot from Fruitridge Avenue. Guests who have not pre-ordered will be given an order form and directed to a parking space. Guests who have pre-ordered meals will provide the name listed on their order and be directed to a parking space. All food will be delivered to their vehicles, and guests will exit the lot via Hudson Avenue.
A chili meal costs $10. It includes a bowl of chili, a choice of sandwich, Fritos, crackers, shredded cheese and cookies. Guests can opt for ground beef chili with beans, ground beef chili without beans or vegetarian chili.
For the sandwich, guests can select either an all-beef hot dog on a bun or a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.
Guests can also buy larger quantities of chili, including a quart for $10.
Held in conjunction with the Chili Fest will be UCM’s annual Online Auction. Beginning on Sunday, March 20, prospective bidders can view auction items at https://ucm.betterworld.org by clicking the “Online Auction” box. Bidding will continue until 5 p.m. Thursday, March 31. High bidders will be notified and charged, and winners can pick up their items at UCM, 321 N. Seventh St.
Among more than 75 auction items are: a yellow-and-white quilt from Trinity Lutheran quilters; a complete collection of James Bond movies on DVD; a complete collection of Downton Abbey DVDs; numerous pieces of artwork; passes to Climbing Café and Bouncin’ Barn; two chess sets; a variety of purses; assortments of 10 perennial flowers and plants; a three-month membership at Union Health Center for Fitness and Performance; a Hoosier-themed book collection; and gift cards to restaurants and merchants, including Baesler’s, Federal Coffee, Rick’s Smokehouse, Cheddars, Gingersnaps, Cackleberries, Texas Roadhouse, Longhorn Steakhouse and Logan’s Ribeye.
Proceeds from the Chili Fest and Online Auction benefit United Campus Ministries, an ecumenical ministry serving the campuses of Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, St. Mary-of-the-Woods College and Ivy Tech. As part of its operation, UCM staffs a student food pantry that supplies groceries to students in need.
The Chili Fest is one of two major community fund-raisers held annually by UCM, the other being the Annual Barbecue held in conjunction with Holypalooza in the fall.