Lions hold annual chili supper

<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 10pt;">Scores of people turned out last Thursday for the Du Quoin Lions Club's fifth-annual chili supper.<br /> Lion Dale Spencer said the club pre-sold 96 tickets for this year's event, and organizers hoped to match the around 120 meals sold at past years' dinners.<br /> The event, which took place at Derby Community Hall, aims to raise funds for a number of the Lions' philanthropic efforts, including hearing aids and eyeglasses for the hearing- or vision-impaired. Proceeds also support scholarships for local students. A $5 ticket netted diners chili, a drink and dessert.<br /> Preparations for the meal itself took much of the day. Designated "chili master" Henry Boren said he spent about two and a half hours preparing the burger for the chili, followed by an additional two to three hours off additional preparation at the site of the dinner.<br /> Spencer said the Lions all embrace doing the work in order to support the organization's various causes.<br /> "Everyone comes in and works together," Spencer said. "None of us has any qualms about coming up and spending half a day helping."</span></span>