According to CNN’s Roland Martin, “We’ve talked a lot about the role of government in taking care of the least of us. It’s a political question, but it’s also a moral question. And for 85-year-old Ida Martin, it is a personal one. And earlier this month, her name was added to the Wall of Honor in her hometown of Bluffton, South Carolina, for starting an organization that last year helped nearly 22,000 people in need.

This is not her first honor. Late last year, she received the President’s Citizens Medal at the White House.”

See the video here…

The good news is that the national Postal Drive sponsored by the letter carriers called “Stamp Out Hunger” is this coming Saturday, May 12th, and we anticipate receiving enough food to keep the shelves stocked for some time.

Now that we serve 35% more people on a regular basis than we did during this time a year ago, this increased need is ongoing. The coummunity has always met the need, and we trust they will again!

Your local postal workers will pick up and deliver your food donations items to Bluffton Self Help. This year, we anticipate a huge turnout of local support, and as always, extra volunteers are needed to assist with moving and unloading food. If you have any questions about this year’s postal drive, or would like to volunteer, please give us a call at 843-757-8000.

The Lowcountry charities which will be the beneficiaries of the 2012 Charity Cup are once again:  Bluffton Self Help, The Bluffton Boys & Girls Club, Beaufort Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society, and additional charities to be selected through a grants review process in concert with the Community Foundation of the Lowcountry.

For questions regarding the Berkeley Hall Charity Fund and donation options, please contact Diane Anselmo @ pndanselmo@hargray.com or 843-706-9685. For golf, tee and hole sponsor questions, please contact Jeff Grime @ jrgrime@msn.com or 843-606-1284.

NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY, BUT MUST BE OVER 18 TO PARTICIPATE

It is simple to enter the Mary Kay “Get Beautiful. Give Back.” Contest.
Agree to have your Before and After photos posted on the Mary Kay website, along with a sentence saying what “giving back” means to you,
and you will be eligible to win.

Local Bluffton Sr. Beauty Consultant, Lisa Nunziata, is trying to win a national contest and earn a $5,000 donation for Bluffton Self Help. Come lend your face for a good cause!

Dates: May: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 21st, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 30th, 31st
Times: 10am, 11am, 12pm or 1pm
Place: Bluffton Self Help

For more questions, please contact Lisa Nunziata by email or call (843) 368-6824.

Julie Del Guercio and other volunteers enjoy the lively time at the first annual Red Apron Chili Cookoff

At the first annual RED APRON CHILI COOKOFF held on Saturday, February, chief judge, Michael Freedman from Connecticut, rallied the chili cooks to enter the Red Traditional cooking category and the 14 registered cooks grew to the required 20 in a matter of seconds, qualifying this first annual cookoff as a regional cookoff. The significance of earning the regional level, from the original district level means more cooks will attend this event next year and Bluffton Self Help has established an annual event to raise funds.

This year, the winner of the Red Apron Chili Cookoff, Jan Sprouse, from Orange Park, Florida, will represent Bluffton Self Help at the Championship cookoff to be held October 5 through the 7. No one could be more surprised than her!

Jan originally assisted her husband Larry Weltikol when he competed at various cookoffs. She would make recommendations on what he should do, while he was cooking. He finally decided to buy her a tent, propane stove and everything else she needed to enter her own chili. She did, and won; placing first in Red Traditional and second in Salsa and third place in Chili Verde .

Other winners included local residents Justin Flood who placed second in Red Traditional; Thomas Ferrel, Chef at Berkeley Hall, who placed first in Homestyle and Scott Bishop, who placed first in Salsa.

People Choice winners, the category voted by the spectators, were Tom Ferrel of Berkeley Hall and placing third was Captain Woody’s.

Founded in 1967, the International Chili Society is an organization that sanctions nearly 200 chili cookoffs each year that are governed by ICS rules and regulations and a blind judging process. These events are worldwide and benefit charities or non-profit organizations. Local winners of ICS sanctioned cookoffs qualify to compete for cash prizes and awards throughout the year. Top-level winners compete for a total prize package of $55,000 at the World’s Championship Chili Cookoff held each year in October.

BSH’s goal is to establish this event as a major food festival in Bluffton and to raise funds for the programs. Anyone interested in joining in on the fun by serving on this committee can do so by contacting the staff. And, mark your calendars, the second annual RED APRON CHILI COOKOFF is scheduled for Saturday, February 24, 2013.

SPECIAL THANKS TO David Arnold, Laura Mathis and Kelly Normayle, three amazing volunteers, who helped work on this first year event. Tanger Outlet Center of Hilton Head who donated the space; Joe Hix Construction who donated the generator; our sponsors Bluffton Today, the Island Packet and Palmetto Electric; and all our hard working volunteers the day of the event. Special thanks also to our amazing volunteer coordinator, Nancy Meyer.