Jaycees, chili and beer

The Carson City Jaycees will be chillin' and swillin' Saturday at their third annual No Holds Barred Chili Cook-Off and Beer Tasting fund-raiser.

Proceeds benefit the "Happy Feet" program which provides needy children with new shoes and socks.

Children referred by Advocates to End Domestic Violence, Child Protection Services and Nevada Hispanic Services currently benefit from the program.

The Jaycees will work with James Gotchy of Gotchy Outlet to get the children's shoes fitted properly, said Jaycees Chairman Lori Brown.

Last year's event raised enough money to supply 85 children with shoes and socks.

According to Jaycees past president Mark Jacoby, the goal this year is to put 500 pairs of shoes on children's feet.

At the event there will be more than 15 different types of beer available. Six organizations and individuals will be serving up their best chili recipes.

"My goal is to share with the community where the funds have gone and who we are working with," Brown said.

Judges this year are Sen. Mark Amodei, Assemblywoman Bonnie Parnell and Carson City Manager John Berkich.

The Carson City Jaycees have been serving the community for more than 50 years, and currently have 30 members.

"We are children-oriented, but it's for the whole community," Brown said.

"The Jaycees are community-minded and teach young people certain skills and in the process we do good will-type stuff in the community," Jacoby said.

The Easter egg hunt, the haunted house and this gala are the Jaycees' three major annual events.

The Jaycees rely entirely on donations for the Easter egg hunt at Governor's Field.

Last year volunteers dressed up in bunny costumes and went "bar-hopping" asking local businesses for donations.

Their hopping paid off because they raised $1,500 which bought the 25,000 eggs that took volunteers from the National Guard and Boys & Girls Club of Western Nevada seven hours to dye, Brown said.

The Jaycees have also sponsored cemetery clean-up, river raft races, a local rodeo and bed races on Nevada Day.