'Souper Bowl of Caring' to benefit Feed Cheney

Feed Cheney is planning its first annual fundraiser. It’s called “Souper Bowl of Caring.”

Four and a half years ago Feed Cheney started providing a hot meal on the last Monday of each month, and groceries to tide people over until the first of the month. Initially it managed on the unsolicited donations that trickled in from churches and individuals. 

Second Harvest Food Bank provided the groceries for distribution, with the soups and entrees provided by Women and Children’s Free Restaurant. And all the labor was, and still is, provided by volunteers. So the main expense was for the ingredients for salad and dessert. 

But a lot has changed in the last couple of years. Attendance has risen sharply, and while the hot food (soup and entree) is still graciously provided by Women and Children’s Free Restaurant, they still get some groceries from Second Harvest and Second Harvest’s resources are now stretched very thin. In order to be able to continue to provide a nutritious hot meal for 130 people and a significant amount of groceries for Cheney families in need, Feed Cheney is now spending $500 a month. That’s why they need a fundraiser.  

‘Souper Bowl of Caring’ happens on Super Bowl Sunday, which has the distinction of having the second highest rate of food consumption in America, second only to Thanksgiving. This year 140 million people are expected to be watching the Super Bowl, while 50 million Americans are facing hunger. 

Feed Cheney asks people to be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat, and contribute to the ‘Souper Bowl of Caring’ in Cheney. So far, Eastern Washington University’s Student Community Outreach and Cheney’s United Church of Christ, United Methodist and the Church of the Nazarene have signed on to participate. Others are expected to join. 

Donations will be collected in soup pots at the close of services Feb. 1. Checks may also be mailed to United Church of Christ, 423 N. 6th St., Cheney WA 99004, with “Feed Cheney Souper Bowl” written in the memo line. All Feed Cheney funds are kept in a line item in the UCC bank account.

To learn more about Feed Cheney or ‘Souper Bowl of Caring,’ send an email to [email protected] or [email protected], or call Natalie at 324-1659.

Christie Bruntlett is a Cheney resident and is the publicity coordinator for Feed Cheney.