BRUNSWICK — Tired of chili cook-offs, the Brunswick Optimist Club decided to do something new Sunday — a soup cook-off.

The cook-off attracted about 100 people who sampled soups made by 10 contestants, and the proceeds from the event went to benefit children of Brunswick, said event co-chairwoman Norma Lesnak, of Brunswick.

Jody Lockard, left, of Lodi, waits for a bowl of potato soup from Gayle Hayas, right, of Medina, and her granddaughter, Amaya Nutter, 9, of Medina, and grandson, Carter Yedlick, 9, of Brunswick, at the soup cook-off hosted by the Brunswick Optimist Club on Sunday at Mapleside Farms in Brunswick. (GAZETTE PHOTO BY MICHELLE SPREHE)

Lesnak chose 10 professional women from the county to compete, after noticing that the chili cook-offs the club has hosted in the past were dominated by men.

“Everyone said it was a fantastic idea,” Lesnak said.

Lesnak estimated at the end of the event that about $1,000 had been raised for the club, which it will put to use in scholarships, filling backpacks with supplies for children and fulfilling various other needs of community children.

“We have one focused thing to do — help the kids of the community,” said club member Ron Manzi, of Brunswick. “All the stuff we’re doing here goes right back to the community. It’s a wonderful high to do all this.”

Cindi Schneider, executive director of the HANDS Foundation, a nonprofit for older adults, was a contestant in the cook-off and made a seafood bisque.

“I just like helping and I know how important it is to help,” Schneider said. “They (the club) really enhance the lives of the children here in the community.”

All contestants received a stainless steel ladle, and three crowd favorites were chosen.

Nicole Incandela, of Brunswick and president of the Brunswick Kiwanis Club, won first place with her aunt’s chicken Florentine recipe, which she had never made before.

“Everybody’s soup was so good. I can’t believe I won,” Incandela said.

Lesnak said the Optimist Club would most likely hold the soup cook-off again next year.

“Not knowing what we were doing this year, I’d say we did a pretty good job,” Lesnak said.

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