Providence Connects is hosting its annual chili cookoff on Sunday, March 29, at Front Street Park in Melbourne. The event costs $50 for adults and includes chili tasting, food, and drinks, with proceeds funding programs that provide food, housing, and other support to Brevard’s vulnerable residents. The cookoff marks the first combined event since Daily Bread and the Sharing Center merged to form Providence Connects last year. Brandy Bean, director of development at the agency, said the event began in 2024 as a tribute to Daily Bread’s origins. On its first day more than 30 years ago, Daily Bread served just 14 bowls of chili. That small start has grown into a community effort to help neighbors in need. This year’s event will highlight the merger, which Bean said reflects the agency’s shared history and expanded impact. Executive director Jeffrey Njus said the programs connect people to food, housing, and hope. The cookoff will feature chili-making teams competing for recognition, with no entrance fee for participants. Teams can still sign up to join the competition. The event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Front Street Park, 100 S. Orange Ave. in Melbourne. Tickets are available for purchase online or at the door. The cookoff is one of several fundraisers Providence Connects hosts annually, but Bean called it a favorite because of its community feel. 'It’s a chance to bring people together over something simple and delicious,' she said. The event will also include live music, games for children, and a silent auction. Proceeds will directly support the agency’s outreach efforts, which include food pantries, housing assistance, and job training programs. Njus said the agency serves more than 10,000 people each month in Brevard County. 'Every dollar helps,' he said. 'Whether you’re a chef or a taster, you’re part of something bigger.'