DOWAGIAC — To the women with the chapters of Beta Sigma Phi, almost nothing is better than a warm, comforting bowl of chili. This is why the sorority will soon be hosting a chili supper fundraiser for local charities.

The five chapters of Beta Sigma Phi will host its 33rd annual chili supper from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 12 in the Dowagiac Union High School cafeteria, located at 701 W. Prairie Ronde St., Dowagiac. Menu items will include chili, cornbread, dessert, beverages and hot dogs. Take out options will also be available. Tickets are $6, and children under the age of 5 can eat for free. Tickets can be purchased from any sorority members, at the Cass County Council on Aging or at the door on the day of the event. Parking will be in the student parking lot of the high school.

“This is a great way to get all of our chapters together working on one fundraiser,” said Sue Ann Stewart, president of the five chapter of Beta Sigma Phi. “When we all work together for our community, we have a wide reach.”

All money raised from the event will be donated to the COA’s Meals on Wheels program, which provides meals for area seniors, and the Borgess Lee Tree of Love program, which helps uninsured, low income women receive mammography services at Borgess.

Stewart said the sorority donates to two organizations each year. Last year, the chili supper raised $1,600 for the two organization, but Stewart said that Beta Sigma Phi is always striving to raise more.

“We chose Tree of Love as a benefactor, because they really aid women, and we are a women’s organization,” she said. “And we also chose Meals on Wheels, because we know that there is always a need there.”

The organizations benefitting from this year’s chili supper said they were grateful for Beta Sigma Phi’s support.

“I think this is a really good fit,” said Kelli Casey, manager of the COA’s Front Street Crossing location in Dowagiac. “[The sorority] is really out there in the community, and that is really great.”

Beth Cripe, development coordinator with the Lee Memorial Foundation, was similarly thankful for the donation.

“Because of this gift that they are giving, it is helping many uninsured and underinsured women in Cass County with breast services. We have so many women that aren’t getting the services they need, because they simply can’t afford it, so this is great,” she said. “We are thrilled with the donation. It is such a wonderful gift to give.”