In Schoolcraft, fall weather and Chili in the Park have gone together for nine years. The 10th annual chili tasting event will take place from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7 in Burch Park, according to Scott Hines, CEO of Kalamazoo County State Bank (KCSB) which sponsors the event.
The public is invited to attend and taste some locally made chili and support the nonprofits that participate in the day by making the chili and selling it in the park. There will also be vendors in the park selling fall goods.
“We started this signature event for our bank in 2008 when we celebrated our 100-year anniversary. We now hold the event annually the first Saturday of October. We invite everyone to come, taste and enjoy.”
To support the participating nonprofit agencies at Chili in the Park, the public is asked to donate a canned good for local food pantries. “This makes the day more about the donations and our community than the chili. It is about the unique and valuable support each of the agencies brings to the community,” Hines said.
The bank figures about $2,000 has been raised over the last 10 years of the event, all of which has been used to purchase supplies for the local pantries.
Founded in 1908, Kalamazoo County State Bank is the oldest independently owned and operated community bank in Kalamazoo County. KCSB has offices in Schoolcraft, Mattawan and Vicksburg.