From left, Chris Fennell and Nate Shahan work as a team during GoPacks' Top Chef Challenge Friday. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Culinary skills and community camaraderie took center stage Friday at the annual GoPacks Top Chef Challenge.

The event, held at the Marietta Shrine Club, showcased three teams of chefs, both professional and amatuer, preparing dishes live in front of an audience using ingredients commonly distributed through GoPacks’ weekend food program.

Executive Director Heather Warner said the goal is to spotlight both the challenges families face and the creativity possible with limited resources.

“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year, and it’s a really fun event,” Warner said. “It focuses on using food to fight food insecurity, and the whole night is about the community coming together to support.”

GoPacks provides food assistance to local students and their families, offering shelf-stable items along with recipes and nutrition education to assist students facing food insecurity. The program operates throughout Marietta City Schools from elementary through high school.

Hannah Wolfe transfers cracker dough to a metal tin to help it hold its shape while it bakes. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

During the challenge, competitors had 45 minutes to create dishes using items from categories such as breakfast, lunch, vegetables and snacks — mirroring what families might receive through the program such as pudding cups, granola bars, canned vegetables and easily prepared grains.

Kim Burnett, a former head chef at Mother Earth Foods and previously a chef in the Portland, Ore., area, said she joined the competition as a way to give back.

“Heather asked me to do it, and she’s helped me in the past, and I wanted to give back,” Burnett said, noting her background in vegetarian and health-focused cooking.

Hannah Wolfe, who works with Morrison Healthcare at Selby General Hospital, said the event aligned with her organization’s community outreach efforts.

“We’re always looking for ways to reach out and kind of give back to the community,” she said. “This is kind of just a natural extension.”

Chris Fennell chops broccoli while participating in the Top Chef Challenge hosted by GoPacks Friday evening. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

For others, the impact of GoPacks is more personal. Chris Fennell, a member of the Marietta City Schools Board of Education who competed alongside local tattoo artist Nate Shahan, said the program directly supports families in the district.

“When we’re servicing almost 150 Marietta families, it’s just like, OK, that’s impactful for the kids that I represent,” Fennell said.

Shahan added that participating offered another opportunity to contribute locally.

“This is a program that helps a lot of people, especially in Washington County,” he said.

Fennell and Shahan were ultimately named winners of the competition, earning top honors for their crusted salmon with fig dish.

Kim Burnett prepares salmon to be marinated during the GoPacks Top Chef Challenge fundraiser. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

Beyond the challenge, the evening included live and silent auctions, all aimed at supporting GoPacks’ mission. Warner emphasized that the program goes beyond food distribution, helping families build healthier habits and access additional community resources.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com

Hannah Wolfe sautés rice in a pan at the GoPacks Top Chef Challenge Friday evening. (Photo by Gwen Sour)

GoPacks Executive Director Heather Warner welcomes attendees to the GoPacks annual Top Chef Challenge Friday evening. (Photo by Gwen Sour)