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Tag Archives: Fundraising Events

Wrapper Style – Newton County Christmas for Kids

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Today officially marks 1 week until Christmas. I have to admit that it makes me a little sad. In no time flat, our Christmas decorations will be put up for another year. And then we’re stuck with January. I may not be a fan of January.

It is definitely time to make sure you’ve crossed off your Christmas Bucket List. Make sure you get all those sweets baked. Remember, when January comes it is time to go on that horrible four-letter word… diet.

Let’s not focus on January though… Let’s move back a little and talk a little more about Newton County Christmas for Kids. A while back, as in earlier this fall, we discussed Newton County Christmas for Kids, around the time of the Chili Cookoff. (Just because it snowed, it is still considered fall until December 22, 2019, based off google and the internet.)

Newton County Christmas for Kids was founded 9 years ago to make a better Christmas for the kids of Newton County (Missouri). Last year alone the organization was able to help over 800 kids in the Newton County communities + 200 Head Start Kids.

So, here’s the process:

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7th Annual Newton County Christmas for Kids Chili/Non-Chili Cook-off

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Times Fun When You’re Having Flies
~Kermit the Frog

Or as the saying goes as we know it, Time Flies When You’re Having Fun. And Fun did we have?!?! Or maybe, boy did we have fun. Hey, he gets to say it backward, can’t I? No, you’re right, probably not.

With all that said (and really nothing said yet) I’m pleased to announce that this year’s Chili/Non-Chili Cook-off and Silent Auction was THE. BEST. YET. I’m pretty sure we’re all floored at how well it went off this year. And to say that we felt like it sprang on us and we were unprepared would be a bit of an understatement. But like they say about weddings, no one knows the details you forgot, except you. And I know a few things we forgot, but do you know what they are? Nope and mum is the word!

7th Annual Newton County Christmas for Kids Chili/Non-Chili Cook-off and Silent Auction

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The Chili Cook-off: A Judge’s Point of View

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Chili cook-off a judge’s point of view.

As a cook whenever I cook chili, a roast, or whatever meal I decide to cook, I cook it the way I want it. That is the way I eat it. If I don’t like it I won’t eat it. As a judge for Newton County Christmas for Kids chili cook-off, I don’t get to make the chili. I get to sample your chili. The chili that you make the way you like. The last few years of the chili cook-off we’ve had some delicious, delicious chili and one batch of chili that dissolved our cups, interesting. Continue reading→

Safari Hunt 2019

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The 2019 Safar Hunt is all over but the blog recap post and here it is.

So this year we had 31 participants in the water + Dan and Doug. Grady, Dan, and Doug hid 10 animals including the “cat” (aka white gorilla that didn’t get found) for participants to find. Once animals were hidden, participants gathered in the water. Jared read the rules and then they were off. They had 45 minutes or a tank pressure of 500 psi to find animals. One animal, the white gorilla, wasn’t found during the hunt plus we had one animal get loose on the surface. It was found and claimed on the surface. It counts. Continue reading→

6th Newton County Christmas for Kids Chili/Non-Chili Cookoff

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Ladies and gentlemen, it’s that time of the year to say… The 6th Annual Newton County Christmas for Kids Chili/Non-Chili Cookoff has come and gone. How on earth can that be? But it’s true. This is one of the largest fundraisers conducted to raise money for Newton County Christmas for Kids. If you’ll remember, last week, there was a blog post on what Newton County Christmas for Kids is and what they accomplish. If you missed that post, I highly suggest you go read it… Now! I’ll wait!

Now that you’re back… This year, the chili cookoff got moved back to the first weekend of November trying to avoid prior commitments… i.e. Halloween parties, The Underwater Pumpkin Carving, Maple Leaf, etc. October seems to be a busy month. The one problem with pushing back so late in the year can be the weather. Now here is where the blogger (that’s me) will tell you about the dream I had… finally.

I was afraid to mention what I thought the weather would be like prior to the event. But, I had a dream that I discussed the weather with Deb and it was going to be pouring down rain. I refused to mention those words prior to the event or even during the event. I left a lot of people wondering what my dream was about. Luckily, the weather held out and it was a beautiful evening. A little windy, but no rain until well after 10 pm when the event was over and we were all cleaned up.

Earlier in the Day

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Newton County Christmas for Kids

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In 2011 after a reorganization of the firefighters helping the children at Christmas, Newton County Christmas for Kids was formed. This is a totally non-for-profit organization. That means all of the helpers volunteer their time with this organization. All funds received go toward helping the kids.

Every year they find a warehouse to set up as a distribution center for the toys. Then the area Newton County fire departments, Newton County Ambulance district, and Newton County Rescue and Recovery volunteer their time to gather, wrap, and distribute the toys. Continue reading→

6th Annual Christmas for Kids Chili Cookoff Official Rules

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2018 Official Chili Cookoff Rules

It is that time of year to start thinking about the Newton County Christmas for Kids Chili and Non-Chili Cookoff and Auction.

Now, I know that some of you aren’t ready to think about Christmas yet, but this is a fundraiser that has to happen before Thanksgiving so that we can raise the funds to help the local children of Newton County have a wonderful Christmas should their parents need just a little help to make that happen. Continue reading→

How to Enter/Carve in the Underwater Pumpkin Carving

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Let’s talk Underwater Pumpkin Carving today. As you know, the 21st annual Underwater Pumpkin Carving is approaching quickly! Like faster than quickly if that’s even possible. Did you realize we’re into the last 90 days of the year already? How on earth did that happen? But focus… The Underwater Pumpkin Carving… Sunday, October 14, 2018, at 1 pm at Beaver Lake, Indian Creek Campground.

Do I need to give you that information again? I really don’t want you to miss it so let’s break it down…

  • When: October 14, 2018
  • Where: Indian Creek Campground, Beaver Lake, Arkansas
  • Time: 1 pm
  • Entry Fee: $6.

Oooh, it’s a good thing I broke that down, I remembered to add the entry fee. That entry fee is a good thing because… wait for it… There will be cash prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. Hear that? Cash Prizes! Who couldn’t use a couple more dollars this time of year what with having to buy candy and trick-or-treating outfits, or how about Chili Cookoff items? Oh wait, that’s another story… but keep that one in the near middle of your brain. That is coming up soon too! Continue reading→

What Happens when Hurricane Gordon Shows Up Uninvited

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Hurricane season officially began June 1, 2018, and ends November 30, 2018. But when we think of Hurricane season, we tend to think August through November. When I was on vacation last month, I overheard on the weather channel that there wasn’t much going on in the Atlantic in August. They figured it would pick up in the month of September. By golly did it ever.

If you haven’t been watching the news, I’ll let you in on a little secret… The Carolina’s have been asked to evacuate. And Hurricane Florence isn’t the first hurricane to greet us with their presence this month. Last week, Hurricane Gordon fizzled out and came all the way up into the flyover states, gracing us with rain. Torrential downpours in fact.

The other thing I should mention… last week we made the trek across the state and the state line into Illinois to go SCUBA diving at Mermet Springs just outside Metropolis, Illinois. Some of us came in Thursday, the rest came in on Friday. Saturday Gordon rared his ugly head. It poured. And with water sports… the rule of thumb… 30 minutes after the last lightning strike. Every time a new lightning strike comes, the time starts over. Continue reading→