The Ocean City Restaurant Association (OCRA) hosted its second annual fundraising festival raising $4,000 for the Ocean City Firefighters Foundation Inc. run by the local #4032 union of the International Association of Firefighters.
Steaming cups of soup from restaurants all over Ocean City were dished out to over 500 hungry patrons at the Chili Chowder Festival event this past October. Families lined up for tastings from Ocean City restaurants such as Varsity Inn, Bennie’s Bread, Clancy’s, Jon and Patty’s, Arlene’s, Island Grill, Chatterbox, Randazzo’s, and Cousin’s. Johnny B Goode Ice Cream Parlor provided water and soft drinks. New this year was a Chili Cook Off between the three Fire Stations in OC. With a DJ playing music and tables lined with hot soups and a fun atmosphere – it was, once again, as festive fall scene on the Ocean City Boardwalk.
OCRA is committed not only to serving delicious food, but to giving back to the community through fundraising events like the Chili Chowder Festival. This year’s beneficiary – the Ocean City Firefighters Foundation Inc. is a local organization that is supported by direct donations throughout the year such as this one given by OCRA. The Fire Fighters also raise money through tee shirt sales and through fundraising events. The monies are then bundled into scholarships and rewards that are distributed locally to Ocean City High School, Intermediate, and Primary school students as well as to the Junior Miss Ocean City Pageant and many other recipients. For more information on the Foundation, visit www.oceancityfirefighters.com.
The festival was sponsored by Ocean City Magazine – www.ocnjmagazine.com. For more information, please visit www.EatinOCNJ.com or email ocra@eatinocnj.com.
