I Serve With Joy marks 10 years with Charity Chili Cook-Off

I Serve With Joy is celebrating a decade of service in Charleston after helping more than 5,000 families and building a network of over 100 community partners. The nonprofit will host its second annual Charity Chili Cook-Off on Dec. 6 to raise money for chefs and its First 1,000 Days campaign.

Why it matters: - I Serve With Joy has become a major local support network in the Lowcountry, with more than 5,000 families served and 500,000 pounds of aid distributed over 10 years. - The Dec. 6 cook-off is both a fundraiser and a community event, with proceeds tied to chef payouts and maternal-child support programs.

What happened: - I Serve With Joy is celebrating its 10th anniversary in Charleston, South Carolina. - The nonprofit will host its second annual Charity Chili Cook-Off from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 6, at the Hanahan Amphitheater. - Comedian TLink will host the event, and event personality Deya Smith will emcee. - Executive Chef Kendric Smith will serve as honorary culinary chair and oversee the competition’s judging panel.

The details: - The nonprofit says it has supported more than 5,000 babies and families through its All Things Baby Initiative and Community Baby Shower experiences. - I Serve With Joy says it has built a network of more than 100 community partners, including Gerber Children’s Warehouse, Bombas, Delancey Street Foundation and the South Carolina Commission for Community Advancement and Engagement, its 2026 Regional Impact Partner. - Founder Joy Campbell said the organization started by feeding families under a bridge and later served from storage units while expanding across South Carolina. - The cook-off includes a $1,500 prize pool for chef competitors. - For every $4 chili bowl sold, $2 will go to chef competitors and $2 will support the First 1,000 Days campaign. - The First 1,000 Days campaign is aimed at supporting mothers from pregnancy through a baby’s second birthday with essentials, workshops, community resources and help accessing early childcare. - Admission is free with registration. - Event features include the chili competition, vendors, a Kids Entrepreneur Village, a Healthy Families Pavilion, food trucks, community giveaways and family-friendly activities. - The event will include a live performance by Southern Soul and trail ride artist Klay Bankz. - Guests can buy an optional chili tasting and voting pass to help choose the chili champion. - A Chili + Cheers experience will pair chili tasting with beverages from AOS Mobile Bar. - Separate Cheers passes will also be sold. - The Charleston County Board of Elections will provide voter education during the event and participate in the People’s Choice Chili Competition. - The event is presented with Atlas Tech, AOS Mobile Bar, Indigo Ink Marketing, Dream It Print It (DIPI), Rose and Pearlz Events, Sip Station, What’s Going On Charleston, TVM Experience, Z93 Jamz and Magic 107.3. - Charleston artist Michael J. Warren of Kreative Jooce Art & Design created exclusive 10-year commemorative artwork for the anniversary. - The public can also participate by becoming a vendor, bringing a food truck, volunteering, or becoming a community partner or sponsor. - Event details, pricing, registration and chef participation information are available at charitychilicookoff.org or by texting Chili to 347-774-0155.

Between the lines: - The cook-off turns a food-centered fundraiser into a broader community activation, mixing family programming, civic education and small-business exposure. - The chef payout structure suggests the event is designed to help culinary creators monetize participation, not just compete for a title. - The nonprofit is using its anniversary to reinforce a message of growth from direct aid to a wider service model focused on families and maternal support.

What's next: - Organizers will build toward the Dec. 6 cook-off and continue recruiting chefs, vendors, sponsors, volunteers and food trucks. - The event will also serve as a public launch point for the nonprofit’s next phase of fundraising for the First 1,000 Days campaign.

The bottom line: - I Serve With Joy is celebrating 10 years by turning a signature comfort food into a funding engine for families, chefs and community outreach.