Red Cross sets annual chili supper fundraiser for Friday, Feb. 26

Getting ready for the Feb. 26 Putnam County Red Cross Chili Supper are (front, from left) Pam Pierce, representing CERT; Robin Hazelbaker, chef at The Waters of Greencastle; Ginger Scott, Red Cross Leadership Council; (back, from left) Gregory Stahl, Operation Life; Britton Riley, executive director, American Red Cross West-Central Indiana Chapter; Lori Lucas, Red Cross Leadership Council and Putnam County Hospital; Scott Stockton, Red Cross Leadership Council; Amy Sparks, The Waters of Greencastle; Rhonda Brotherton, Putnam Inn; Brooke Trissel, Leadership Council; and Quentin Humbarger, Operation Life. (Courtesy photo)

Members of the Putnam County American Red Cross Leadership Council and a few sponsors gathered recently to discuss the details of the annual Chili Supper and Silent Auction scheduled for Friday, Feb. 26 at the National Guard Armory in Greencastle.

Major chili supper sponsors are:

-- The Waters of Greencastle serving warm chili and cornbread.

-- The Putnam Inn serving drinks of tea, water and coffee.

-- Delta Theta Tau sorority serving up sweet desserts.

-- Him and Her, Joel and Tosh Everson of War Radio, providing musical entertainment throughout the evening.

Supply sponsors include Dairy Castle, Pizza King, The Waters of Greencastle and Putnam County Hospital.

Along with the Chili Supper and Silent Auction the Hometown Heroes will also be present with good information on safety and items for the kids from the Greencastle Fire Department, Police Department, Putnam County Operation Life, Putnam County Sheriff Department and CERT.

All proceeds from the evening will go toward disaster relief and military assistance for Putnam County residents.

"Our mission is simple, " Putnam County Red Cross spokesman Ginger Scott said. "We aim to reach, teach, impact and help change lives.

"It may be a disaster -- from a home fire that impacts a single family to a flood that affects an entire community. It may be a call to save a life when someone is choking or having a heart attack. Or, it may be a family looking to get in touch with a service member about an emergency at home or help coping with the difficulties of deployment. That's your Red Cross working 24 hours a day."

Within in the past year, the Putnam County Red Cross served 11 families who lost the use of their home to a fire with an average cost of $500-$600 per family of four.

The local Red Cross also "saved the day" by assisting 13 military families in staying connected to a loved one serving in the armed services, Scott said.