Area organizations prepared their best chili and the public paid $8 each to dine, all you can eat.  Diners decided the winner • Money goes to Joplin Area Firefighters Christmas for Kids which buys toys and coats for area children.  

(64804)  — “Well we are firefighters, we are problem solvers.  We wanted to win.  So we had a raffle attached to our pot of chili that made us the winners,” Adam Grimes of Local 59 tells Joplin News First.  But the best tasting chili would have went to State Farm Insurance from what I hear he says laughing.  

It was all in good fun.  And it was all for area kids.

Money goes to Joplin Area Firefighters Christmas for Kids program which works year round for children in the Joplin area that have been displaced by a fire, replacing their toys and belongings.  

But during the Christmas season it’s their largest fundraising time of the year.  Any child in need can be nominated that might not have a Christmas.  Or a child that might not have a warm coat.  Applications are being taken through December 8, 5:00 PM.  CLICK here if you would like to fill out an application for a child online. 

You can make a donation to the campaign in any of these ways:

1) Drop by any fire Joplin fire station and make a donation in person.  A new children’s coat or financial donation.

2) Mail a check to: Joplin Fire Department, Station #1, NOTE: Christmas For Kids, 303 East 3rd, Joplin MO  64801

3) CLICK this link to visit the website to donate electronically.  

“The Joplin Community have entrusted us since 1917 to keep them safe and our Christmas for Kids program is part of that, taking care of the community, so it’s a part of what we do,” Grimes states.  

“And thank you to Precision Events, Emerson Event Center and Clark’s Cuisine for hosting the event, we really appreciate them for their work.  And all the teams that competed.”

CHILI TEAMS COMPETING FOR CHILI BOWL 2018 HONORS
Turbine Engine Consultants, Inc. – TECI
Clark’s Cuisine
Joplin Area Firefighters Christmas for Kids
Oronogo Fire District
Metro Emergency Transport System
State Farm Insurance
Crossland Construction Company, Inc.
Mercy Hospital Joplin
Mid-Missouri Bank
Freeman Health System
We Drive CFI
Leggett & Platt Incorporated

There are not anymore fundraising events so they ask those to donate in the ways above.  But you will see the Joplin area firefighters at Academy Joplin on December 6 where they will be spending $1,000 that has been donated, thanks to Academy employees and friends.  

To contact the Joplin area firefighters for donations or questions regarding the campaigns CLICK THE LINK HERE, thank you.