Williamson: Great meals with great returns

As I was wolfing down my perfectly smoked pork chop on Friday — one of 727 served up by the Portales Rotary Club as part of its chuck wagon meal at the New Mexico Ag Expo — I was thinking about how much I love fundraisers that involve food.

In exchange for a great meal and priceless visiting, all of us who bought tickets pitched in to support Rotary’s causes which include, according to club president Randy Rankin, scholarships for ENMU freshmen, Thanksgiving and Christmas programs for the two area children’s homes, and Rotary International’s long-term effort to eradicate polio.

linkThat’s a good return on a pork chop.

Friday evening is our next opportunity to eat for a cause: The Kiwanis Club of Portales will be serving beef and vegetarian chili from 5-7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall at First United Methodist Church. Adults can buy a ticket at the door for $7; kids 12 and under eat for $4.

Longtime member Tony Schroeder said Kiwanis earmarks its earnings for undertakings that benefit youth in Roosevelt County, including swim and track meets, AYSO soccer, clothing for needy primary school youth, and early childhood development reading materials for head start children. The club is also an ongoing supporter of Habitat for Humanity and the Food Bank of Eastern New Mexico.

That feel-good chili will be served up this year with a side of sweet tunes from the ENMU jazz combos.

Count me in.

Betty Williamson likes chile with her chili, especially when it’s chilly. You may reach her at

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