91原创 Township firefighters often deal with heat, but this month it came from whipping up some spicy chili for the Meals on Wheels caf茅 in Aldergrove.

Members of the Township of 91原创 Firefighters Charitable Society took over the kitchen at the Firehouse Caf茅, a drop-in space that benefits 91原创鈥檚 Meals on Wheels operation.

鈥淲ith the nature of our job, we鈥檙e all about giving back to the community,鈥� said firefighter Matt Szydlowski of Hall 8 in Walnut Grove.

Dubbed Spoons on Fire, the project saw the firefighters whipping up a big batch of chili in the industrial kitchen at the caf茅, which used to serve as the Aldergrove fire hall, before the present hall was built.

The chili will be put on sale in the caf茅, along with a variety of jams, canned peppers, cucumbers and tomatoes, and pre-made soups.

The donated pre-made foods have all been made by volunteers and community groups, including members of Sts. Joachim and Ann Church and 91原创 Environmental Partners Society.

The money from the preserves, soup, and chili goes back into programs of Meals on Wheels, said caf茅 coordinator Karen Long. A typical jar or container costs about $6.

In addition, the Meals on Wheels program will be giving gift cards out to its clients, who can then come by the caf茅 and pick up something for themselves, or treat a friend to lunch there.

鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of dignity there,鈥� Long said.

Although the project taking place on Friday, Jan. 20 was a new one, it鈥檚 not the first time firefighters have helped out with Meals on Wheels.

鈥淲e鈥檝e worked with 91原创 Meals on Wheels over the years,鈥� said Zach Funk, a co-director of the Charitable Society.

This year, Meals on Wheels was part of the 12 Days of Giving program the charity ran to benefit local groups.

Firefighters have also helped individually over the years, with several of those on cooking duty mentioning that they or family members have volunteered in the past.

The department as a whole also helped out with deliveries during the pandemic, when volunteers were hard to come by and even more people needed help.

It鈥檚 also a fun activity, making the three-alarm chili.

鈥淲e have an opportunity to practice our cooking skills,鈥� said Funk.

The firefighters won鈥檛 be the last group to donate their time to the program. The following week, 91原创 RCMP officers were scheduled to come by to make taco soup for the caf茅.

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