The Pike County United Way will kick off its 2014 fund-raising season with the Taste of Pike County Chili Cook-off from 5:30 until 7 p.m. tonight at the Colley Senior Complex on Elm Street. The event is free and open to the public.

All 17 agencies that are supported by the Pike County United Way will participate in the Chili Cook-off.

“Everyone is invited to come out and help decide which agency’s pot of chili is the best,” said Jane Thrash, board member and campaign chair. “The chili with the most votes wins.

Tickets for the Chili Cook-off are $1 but to vote more than once, you must purchase another ticket for a dollar. You can vote as many times as you would like and each of the $1 votes goes to the United Way.

A special event of the 2014 Pike County United Way kick-off will be the presentation of the Pike County United Way’s goal for the 2014 fund-raising campaign.

“And, this year, we’ve done something that we’ve not done before,” Trash said. “We sponsored a poster contest for school children using the theme of this year’s campaign, ‘Neighbors Helping Neighbors.’ The winners of the contest will be recognized at the kick-off.”

Although the Taste of Pike County Chili Cook-off is the big event, the kick-off is also an opportunity to learn more about the 17 local agencies that receive funding from the United Way, listen to great music, play games and attend demonstrations.

“Each of the agencies will have information about the services they provide to the people of Pike County,” Thrash said. “The kick-off is a good way to learn more about the agencies and the many contributions that they make to Pike County.

“We are excited to have the Pike County High School Concert Band as our featured entertainment. Weather permitting; the band will present a 30-minute outdoor concert. Otherwise the concert will be held indoors.”

The silent auction always attracts a crowd. Each of the 17 agencies is asked to contribute three items for the auction.

“Many of silent auction items are gift baskets filled with a variety of items,” Thrash said. “And, there will be specialty baskets like the one from Whaley’s Pecans. Pecans will be scarce this year so this should be a high bid item. We’ll also have a large number of homemade cakes and other baked items and, of course, there will be many different kinds of miscellaneous items on the auction block.”

The Boy Scouts will have free hotdogs available and the Pepsi wagon will have sodas to chase the hotdogs and the chili.

A 50/50 drawing will also be held at the kick-off event, with 50 percent of the “pot” going to the winner of the drawing and the other 50 percent to Pike County United Way.

Everyone is invited to attend the this countywide event and support the efforts of the Pike County United Way in its dedication to “Neighbors Helping Neighbors.”