Soup for the Soul Another Success

Soup for the Soul co-chairs Delaney Honeyford and Danielle Lazarus looked around the packed multipurpose room at the First Presbyterian Church Saturday afternoon, taking a short break during an event they had been planning since November.

“I like right before the event starts,” said Lazarus, “when it all comes together.”

“I like when the event is running,” Honeyford said, “and I can see the people enjoying it.”

And it all came together Saturday with 300 people enjoying soup and bread from area restaurants and raising $3,500 for the Food Bank of South Jersey. The event, now in its 11th year, is run by the Moorestown High School Interact Club.

This year’s restaurants included Bacio, Friendly’s, Moorestown Deli, Healthy Garden, Moores Town Café and Georgetti’s. The soup is all-you-can eat. There was also a table of desserts, manned by the school’s Environmental Club. About 50 students and adults volunteered for the event.

“Everything is going great,” said Julia Ranson, MHS teacher and adult coordinator of the event. “There’s not even anything for me to do.”

Around 12:30 Saturday afternoon, the room was filled with patrons enjoying soup and conversation.

“I look forward to this every year,” said Dirck McDowell, a teacher at the William Allen Middle School. “It’s good to see the students I haven’t seen in a few years. And there’s always a good selection of soups.”

McDowell’s favorite soup was the Bacon Potato Corn Chowder. His lunch date, daughter Morgan Everette, liked Georgetti’s bisque best.

“We come every year,” said Lori Burkhardt. “My kids look forward to it. It’s a good sense of community and it’s for a good cause.”

In addition to the soup, there was also a silent auction with items ranging from Phillies tickets to artwork.

The leftover bread, soup and desserts from the day’s event were being donated to the Interfaith Hospitality Network, which provides emergency shelter, meals and other support for families to regain their independence.