Fundraising ideas may come and go, but for the Litchfield Firefighters Association, providing an evening of ham and beans is still its strongest money-making event.
Saturday, April 11, marks the 35th annual ham and bean supper held by the Litchfield Firefighters Association, a non-profit organization that supports the local fire department, firefighters and community. The major fundraiser of the year, it’s been held annually since the association was founded in 1980.
“Back around that time they did dances and a few other things, and a ham and bean supper caught on and we’ve been doing it every year ever since,” James Rea, president of the Litchfield Firefighters Association said in a phone interview.
“It’s actually really good, it’s something different … you don’t see it anywhere else,” Rea said. Pineapple-glazed ham and a bean recipe from one of the firefighters are the main attractions of the menu, along with hot dogs for the children and chili from the current cook-off champion.
“We have an open house at the fire department around fire prevention week, and at that we have a chili cook-off,” Rea said.
For the past two years, the chili champion has brought his recipe to the ham and bean supper.
The ingredients for the meal come from Sam’s Club and Mr. Steer Meats in Londonderry. As for the cooking, it’s all done by the firefighters.
“We start in the kitchen around 10 a.m.,” Rea said.
Rea estimates that around 350 people will attend. This is the first year the supper will be held in the Campbell High School cafeteria, as it was previously held in Griffin Memorial School.
“We’re switching up the venue because the cafeteria is a little bigger and gives us more room to work with,” he said.
The event is very casual, with tickets for purchase at the door, available anytime between 4 and 7 p.m.
“It’s not like a [formal] sit down; it’s more of a casual dinner,” Rea said. “Whenever they come by when we’re open, they can come in and get a hot meal.”
Funds raised at the ham and bean supper will support the charities the association donates to, such as the Firefighter Cancer Support Network and Christmas Angels, along with the fire department’s specific equipment needs.
As seen in the April 9, 2015 issue of the Hippo.
