Staff and student volunteers are needed to assist the Thornden Park Association with its 11th annual Chili Bowl Festival on Sunday, Feb. 11, from noon-4 p.m. in the Stone Field House area of the park. The festival is an annual event that brings together chilies and family fun in the University neighborhood. Attendance is free, and food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Volunteers are organized by Karen Ventrone of SU's Office of Government and Community Relations. Ventrone is recruiting 26 staff and students who will work three-hour shifts from 11:15 a.m.-5 p.m. They will be responsible for setting up, organizing children's activities, serving chili and cleaning up.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for our staff and students to work with members of the Thornden Park Association and in the University neighborhood," Ventrone says.
The Chili Bowl Festival evolves each year. All proceeds are dedicated to improving park facilities. The 11th annual celebration will include three returning chili favorites: Syracuse Chili made with local ingredients, Classic Beef Chili and Chicken Chili. New to the menu this year is a Vegetarian Chocolate Chili and Turkey Pumpkin Chili. The festival will also include raffles. One of this year's prizes is a handmade "Chili Quilt."
For more than 20 years, the Thornden Park Association, a nonprofit corporation, has worked to preserve and protect the park. The Chili Bowl Festival raises money to upgrade park facilities, sponsor events, and encourage increased use of the park by the public. The association is currently working to upgrade the field house kitchen with a new commercial stove and hopes to add an interactive art installation to the park's new playground.
For more information or to become a volunteer, contact Ventrone at 443-3919 or
kmventro@syr.edu.
