An annual celebration took place with the Perry Chamber of Commerce Tuesday to celebrate and look back on the last few years.

The Annual Chamber Dinner took place Tuesday at La Poste in Perry. The annual dinner made sure to look at some of the prominent figures in the community with the Spirit of Perry Business of the Year award and the Jack Finneseth Memorial Volunteer of the Year award recipients. The winner of the business of the year was named as Perry Lutheran Homes and the volunteer of the year award went to Louis and Lou Hoger.

Lou Hoger talks about the recognition as the Perry Area Food Pantry also celebrates moving into their brand new location which will have a ribbon cutting and Chamber Coffee at 8 a.m. this Friday. Lois Hoger also mentioned the other volunteers who help make things work with the Perry Area Food Pantry as well.

“Very exciting and it brings public awareness. Hopefully, bringing public awareness to what we do in the food pantry brings awareness of the issue, of beating hunger and understanding that there are people in our community that we are celebrating who are really are in need and it needs to continue to be met.

COO and Administrator with Perry Lutheran Homes Melissa Gannon talks about being recognized for business of the year. Perry Lutheran Homes was recognized for their work in the community with elders as well as Project Deliver the LOVE among other things.

“A little humbling, it’s been a long two years especially in healthcare obviously with COVID, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.”

One of the other big draws of the night was the announcement, along with the pie in the face, of the Big Boom Bracket Battle winner that helps raise funds for the fireworks for the Fourth of July celebration in Perry. After being labeled as an underdog as the 13th seed Michael Pentico was the overall winner and received the pie in the face at the dinner from runner up Susan Smith.

The Perry Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner returned this year and looked back on a few years due to not being held due to the coronavirus pandemic.