The Pike County United Way board has found a “good” way for the community to support various human services organizations and programs in the county. And, it’s a rather chili way.

The second annual United Way “A Taste of Chili Cook-Off” is set for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Family Life Center of Park Memorial United Methodist Church in Troy.

“Those who want to make a pot of chili and enter the cook-off just need to come on,” said Tammy Powell, Pike County United Way board member. “The 17 agencies that are supported by the United Way are competing and other groups and individuals are invited to enter their favorite chili. All you need to do to enter is show up before 5:30 p.m. Tuesday with a gallon of made-from-scratch chili.”

The entry fee is $25 and each entry will have two opportunities to win – the “People’s Choice” and the “Judge’s Choice.”

“The ‘People’s Choice’ award will be determined by votes,” Powell said. “Each person who would like to serve as a judge will pay a dollar at the door and receive a ticket and have the choice of sampling each entry.”

A voting table will be set up and the tasters may vote for their favorite chili by turning in their voting ticket. Tasters may vote more than once by purchasing more than one ticket.

“The second type of judging will be by a panel of qualified judges,” Powell said.

“They will judge the chili cook-off using a scorecard based on taste, appearance, aroma, consistency and spice.”

Award will be given to the People’s Choice winner as well as the top three winners in the Judge’s Choice.

Powell said everyone is encouraged to come out and “judge” the Pike County United Way’s chili cook-off.

“Almost every Pike Countian in some way benefits from the United Way,” Powell said. “Monies donated are allocated to various human service organizations and programs that directly support Pike County residents. Only about one-third of these agencies also have support from a national organization which means that the majority of our funded agencies are uniquely local or regional.”

Agencies to which the Pike County United Way allocates funds are the Pike County 4-H Clubs, the Pike Regional Child Advocacy Center, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Colley Senior Complex, Salvation Army, Red Cross, East Central Mental Health, House of Ruth, Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Troy Charity League, Humane Society of Pike County, Pioneer Museum of Alabama, Organized Community Action Program (OCAP), Easter Seals, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Sav-a-Life.

For more information about the chili cook-off call 334-268-1353 or 672-4481.

Tax-deductible donations may be mailed to the Pike County United Way, P.O. Box 204, Troy, AL 36081.