Billings Area News

Early Billings Super Bowl party helps feed children

Posted: Jan 27, 2013 3:01 PM by David Jay - MTN News

BILLINGS - A week before the Super Bowl, a group of fans and chefs have some fun and help a charity, at Beartooth Harley Davidson on Saturday. The Munchie Bowl provides a pre-party a week before the Super Bowl.

"Whether our team was in it or not, we always tried to come up with a special meal for the Super Bowl, "said Ginny Mermel, of Qdoba.

Munchie Bowl IV, which is 43 games behind the Super Bowl, inspired eight teams to bring the best plays from their cook books.

"Everybody has their favorite appetizers that they typically will serve at a Super Bowl Party," said Colette Haun, marketing and event coordinator for Beartooth Harley Davidson. "And this is the opportunity for everybody to get out there and compete and make their favorite munchie."

"The Munchie Bowl is a good event for the Super Bowl next weekend," said Rick Benjamin, director of the Beartooth chapter of Harley Owners Group (HOGs). "Everybody has it on their mind and this is for a chair so a lot of people come out you see the same people every year."

"Everybody's here for the same reason and so there's a sense of camaraderie here," Haun said.

The money raised will help the Billings Public Schools Backpack Meals Program, which provides food for 300 children on weekends and holidays.

"It's a little food kit in a gallon zip lock bag," said Mermel, who is also the coordinator of the Backpack Meals Program. "And when the children are out at lunch or recess on Friday, a caring and trusted adult in the school slips the meal into their back packs."

It costs the program about $4 to feed one child on Saturday and Sunday.

"I got a note from a sixth grader who said we sent home enough food for Thanksgiving," Mermel said "That we saved them and that really touches my heart and obviously the heart of a lot of people in our community."

"It's for the charity," Benjamin said. "It's for the fun of it."

"My home team is playing this year," said Mermel. "So you know I'm going to be into it."

this year the fun will help children. Fan votes determined some of the prizes and a panel of judges awarded other prizes.