Tiffany Haynes

Eight different types of chili soup were the means of a tasty fundraiser.

SDSU’s Habitat for Humanity chapter hosted a chili cook-off at the Pius XII Newman Center on Wednesday, Nov. 15 in order to raise funds for a mission trip and for the house they plan to build in Brookings.

“I wanted to make this a competition to get more people involved,” said Andrew Lacey, organizer of the event and the chapter’s missions chairman.

Habitat for Humanity built a house last year in Brookings and plans to build another this spring.

“We need about $10,000 to complete the build in Brookings and if each SDSU student donated $3, we could have the house paid for,” Lacey said.

More than 30 people showed up to support the cause, and three judges picked the top three chilies.

“I just came to check out the food and to donate to a good cause,” said SDSU student Eric Hultgren.

People were allowed to walk through and look at the different choices before settling on which chili they would like to try.

Takara Hrdlicka prepared the number-seven chili.

“I actually know someone who lives in a Habitat for Humanity house. I saw how great it was for his family, so I wanted to help build this house,” Hrdlicka said.

Although Hrdlicka’s chili didn’t win, it wasn’t because it wasn’t unique.

“I got the recipe from a Richard Simmons cookbook. There’s zucchini, yellow squash, liquid smoke and Killian’s Irish Red in this chili.”

The chili that took away the grand prize was Lacey’s mom’s recipe.

“Believe me, I had nothing to do with that,” Lacey said.

SDSU’s Habitat for Humanity is also selling discount cards. The cards cost $10 each, and offer discounts to places like Perkins, Cover to Cover and Ritz Hair Studio & Day Spa.

For more information, check out SDSU’s Habitat for Humanity Facebook group.