28-02-2025
11th annual ‘Food Fight' raises money for Neighborhood House in a tasty way
EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD) — The annual event 'Food Fight' raised funds for Neighborhood House while also showcasing the cuisine of local chefs.
The 11th iteration of the event happened Thursday night at the Par-a-Dice Hotel and Casino in East Peoria, and it's a celebration of food and the services that Neighborhood House provides.
Ten local chefs serve samples of their food, which guests can walk around and try. The chefs then compete in a 'Chopped'-style event, where they are given a bag of mystery items. They then have 45 minutes to prepare a meal out of those ingredients.
Fundraising happens through ticket sales, raffles and a live auction.
Willie Jones is the sales director for Kuna Food Service, which distributes food around the Midwest, and helps Neighborhood House deliver around 20,000 meals per month to people in need.
He asked for community support so that the nonprofit could fulfill its mission.
'If you could go online, and donate because that donation stays 100% in the community and helps those in need,' he said.
Neighborhood House feeds those in need across the Peoria area through its Meals on Wheels program and its food pantry. The nonprofit also offers after-school programs and educational programs for adults.
Its mission is to provide a safe environment, resources, and education to empower the community to reach its fullest potential.
WMBD's Thomas Garverick was the master of ceremonies for the event.
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