Independence, Inc., a Resource Center for Independent Living

02/27/2026

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗶 𝗕𝗼𝘄𝗹 𝗫 𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗔𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘!

The bidding starts now, and you don’t have to wait for event night to get in on the action.

Every item you bid on helps support people with disabilities across our community who are building independent, self directed lives.

Take a look, place your bids, and share with a friend. The more excitement we build now, the bigger the impact on March 5.

And this is just the beginning. The full Chili Bowl experience, including even more ways to give, happens in person at the Grand Oasis Hotel on Thursday, March 5 from 5:00 to 8:00 PM.

👉 Start bidding now
👉 Grab your tickets
👉 Get ready for a great night

Let’s make year ten count. 🔥

Link is in the comments!

02/26/2026

🌶️ 𝙊𝙉𝙀 𝙒𝙀𝙀𝙆.🌶️🔥

Chili Bowl X is just 7 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙖𝙬𝙖𝙮, and the full lineup is officially set.

Look at this crew.

From returning fan favorites to brand new challengers, this year’s competition is stacked:

Arny's 2.0
Big Dog Saloon
Blue Rider
Bones BBQ Smokehouse & Grill
Ebeneezer's
Gourmet Chef
The Ironhorse Kitchen + Bar
Kroll’s Diner – Minot
Panera Bread
Prairie Sky Breads Minot
The Starving Rooster
The Street ND

Twelve competitors. One champion. Serious bragging rights.

And it’s all happening for a reason. Every ticket sold helps support the work we do and the people we serve right here in our community.

📅 March 5
📍 The Grand Oasis | Minot

If you haven’t bought your tickets yet, now's the time 👉https://www.independencecil.org/events-1/chili-bowl-x
Tag your chili crew.
Come hungry.

Let’s do this. 🌶️🔥

02/25/2026

𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗡𝗘𝗪 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹. 🌶️

We’re excited to introduce the final two competitors joining Chili Bowl X this year: Ebeneezer's Eatery & Irish Pub and Street ND.

Ebeneezer’s brings its lively Irish pub atmosphere and hearty comfort food favorites to the competition, while The Street ND is known for bold, creative flavors that have quickly built a loyal following.

Both are NEW to the Chili Bowl lineup and ready to make their mark.

📅 March 5
📍 The Grand Oasis | Minot

With the full competitor lineup now set, which chili are you most excited to try?

👉 Click to get your tickets now https://www.independencecil.org/events-1/chili-bowl-x

02/24/2026

🍰 𝙉𝙀𝙒 𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙔𝙚𝙖𝙧 𝙖𝙩 𝘾𝙝𝙞𝙡𝙞 𝘽𝙤𝙬𝙡 𝙓… 𝘼 𝙎𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙩 𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝘽𝙤𝙣𝙪𝙨!🍪

As if unlimited chili wasn’t enough, we are adding a Bake Sale to the lineup.

Because let’s be honest, who doesn’t want something sweet after a bowl, or ten 😉, of savory chili?

A huge thank you to Karma Convenience Stores, Homesteaders Restaurant , and Gate City Bank for providing locally made treats for our bake sale. We are so grateful for community partners who help make this night even sweeter.

❤️ All proceeds from the Chili Bowl, including the bake sale, support Independence, Inc. and our mission to empower individuals with disabilities to live independently. Your ticket, and your sweet tooth, helps fund advocacy, peer support, independent living skills training, and community inclusion programs right here in our region.

🎟️ Don’t have your tickets yet?
Grab them here: https://www.independencecil.org/events-1/chili-bowl-x

Come hungry. Leave full. Make an impact. 🌶️🍪

02/21/2026

🌿𝗣𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗽: 𝗚𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗖𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆🌿

Creativity has a way of bringing people together. 💙

Join us as we make our own adorable gnome craft in a relaxed, welcoming space. We’ll walk through the project step-by-step while connecting, sharing, and enjoying time in community. No crafting experience needed — just a willingness to try something new!

📅 Wednesday, February 25
⏰ 3:00 PM
📍 Independence, Inc.
👥 Ages 18+ | Open to anyone with a disability

Peer support is about building confidence, sharing space, and learning from one another — and this one is sure to bring a few smiles. 🧶✨

Come create. Come connect. Come as you are. 💚

02/20/2026

02/19/2026

𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙧𝙚𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙖𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙚. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙣𝙜𝙚𝙧. 𝙊𝙣𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙧𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙗𝙡𝙚 𝙣𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩.🌶️

We’re excited to welcome back Kroll’s Diner – Minot and introduce a new competitor, Big Dog Saloon out of Surrey, to Chili Bowl X.

Kroll’s Diner has long been a local favorite for classic diner comfort food and hearty German-inspired dishes, while Big Dog Saloon brings small-town bar and grill energy to the table with crowd-pleasing favorites.

📅 March 5
📍 The Grand Oasis | Minot

From diner classics at Kroll’s to grill favorites from Big Dog Saloon, what’s your go-to order?

👉 Click “Going” on the event. https://www.facebook.com/share/1U6RJH93Jp/

02/18/2026

𝐍𝐞𝐞𝐝 𝐚 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐭? ❄️

From $5 markets to FREE outdoor fun, there are simple ways to get out of the house and stay connected this weekend. A little fresh air, a little cocoa, a little community — without the high price tag.

👉 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫.
👉 𝐓𝐚𝐠 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐛𝐮𝐝𝐝𝐲.
👉 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐨.

Fun and connection shouldn’t depend on how much you can spend. Our community works best when everyone has access to ways to gather, explore, and belong. 💙

02/17/2026

𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗮𝗵 – 𝗡𝗼 𝗚𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗼𝗼 𝗦𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗹 🏆🚗

For many people, getting a driver’s permit is a routine step toward independence. For Mariah, it was a goal that took perseverance, support, and a willingness to try again.

The written permit test presented real challenges. After her first attempt did not go as planned, Mariah faced frustration and embarrassment. These are feelings that can easily derail progress. But instead of giving up, she kept moving forward.

“I was embarrassed, but I didn’t give up,” Mariah shared. “Failing is embarrassing, but giving up is worse.”

With continued studying, practice tests, and encouragement from the people around her, Mariah showed up again. This time, she passed. The relief and pride she felt went far beyond the test itself.

“When I finally passed, I felt like I had just won the Olympics,” she said.

Mariah is quick to acknowledge that this milestone did not happen alone. “Honestly, if it wasn’t for a few people pushing me and Independence, Inc., I probably wouldn’t even have my permit right now.”

At Independence, Inc., we know that success looks different for everyone. Some goals may seem small to others, but to the person working toward them, they can be life changing. Whether it is earning a driver’s permit, building daily living skills, or working toward long term independence, our role is to help people identify their goals and support them in reaching them, no matter what that looks like for them.

Mariah’s story is a reminder that independence is not one size fits all. It is built through persistence, support, and believing that every goal, big or small, is worth celebrating.

02/16/2026

In observance of Presidents Day, our office will be closed on Monday, February 16.

We’ll be back and ready to serve you on Tuesday.

Thank you for being part of our community 💙

02/13/2026

This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the heart of our work — community. 💙

Across North Dakota, you help create spaces where independence, inclusion, and opportunity thrive.

That kind of love makes a real difference.

We’re grateful for you — today and every day.

02/12/2026

⭐𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗝𝘂𝗱𝗴𝗲𝘀 ⭐

In true Chili Bowl fashion, we’ve rounded up some Minot “celebrities” to help us taste, judge, and crown this year’s champion.

Please welcome our Chili Bowl X judges:

• Tom Joyce, City Manager of the The City of Minot
• Megan Topping, News Reporter at KX News
• Amy Smith of Hey Minot
• Chief Michael Frye, Minot Police Department
• Chief Kelli Kronschnabel, Minot Fire Department

These judges will take on the important task of tasting their way through the competition and helping us crown this year’s Chili Bowl champion.

We’re grateful for their time and for supporting a night that brings our community together and makes our work possible.

📅 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟱
📍 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗢𝗮𝘀𝗶𝘀 | 𝗠𝗶𝗻𝗼𝘁

Who do you think will impress our celebrity judges this year? 🌶️

👉 Click “𝗚𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴” on the event. https://www.facebook.com/share/1FyXDgrZEz/