Cooking, cash and kids: Kiwanis Cooking Show raises funds to help children
By Sheri Trusty, Seneca County Media Relations Coordinator
It was all about the kids when the Kiwanis Club of Tiffin hosted For the Love of Food Cooking Show at Columbian High School on Feb. 8. The show offered fun, food and the chance to support the Kiwanis Club’s efforts to impact the lives of local children. The audience responded generously as it donated hundreds of dollars throughout the evening.
The event included a preshow vendor display featuring businesses from around the county, including restaurants, retail and wholesale shops and homebased businesses. Many of the vendors offered free samples.
Members of the Tiffin Police Department, led by Chief David Pauly, cooked an entire meal on stage, creating banter, batter, nonsense, noodles and enough naughty words to keep the swear jar overflowing. The event was emceed by Kiwanis member Michelle Tuite.
A Celebrity Dessert Auction that featured desserts homemade by local celebrities – or their wives – was a highlight of the evening. Among the celebrities was Seneca County Commissioner and Kiwanis member, Bill Frankart, who auctioned off a Chocolate Lasagna prepared by his wife, Janet Frankart. The dessert raised over $200 for Kiwanis.
“The Kiwanis celebrity baking show was an outstanding event from the various vendors set up to sample their food options to Chief Pauly and his crew preparing a meal and being very entertaining,” Commissioner Frankart said. “I really enjoyed participating in their dessert auction which benefits many youth in Seneca County. I encourage more people to participate in this next year.”
Kiwanis Club of Tiffin President-elect, Melissa Mullins, was grateful that so many people attended the event.
“The cooking show raises funds for the Kiwanis Club so we can help the children of the county,” Mullins said.
The Kiwanis Club of Tiffin funds many projects, including birthday bags for local foster children, chemo care packages, books for the Tiffin Mercy pediatric unit and leadership programs in local schools.
“Anything we can do to help, we jump in,” Mullins said.
The event gave vendors like Smith Family Foods the opportunity to spread the word about their businesses. Smith Family Foods is a wholesale bulk food store in Tiffin that operates with a club-store concept. Owner Aaron Smith said the business has participated in the cooking show for years.
“We like to support Kiwanis, and it gives visibility to our store,” he said.
Jason Miller, Ohio District Governor for Kiwanis, traveled to Tiffin to attend the cooking show. He said the event is an impactful way to help Kiwanis meet its mission of helping children.
“It’s good to get the Kiwanis name out in the community, and it helps Kiwanis change the world one child at a time,” Miller said. “This is the community giving to Kiwanis to give back to the community.”