Written by: John DeRousie / Custom Marketing Solutions
FULTON, NY – With the need for food subsidy increasing and food pantries throughout Oswego County being hard pressed to meet the growing demand, the United Way of Greater Oswego County is doing its part to raise awareness of the food shortage in Oswego County and encourage the community to help fill the shelves of our area food pantries.
On March 22, the United Way will hold its third annual ‘Stone Soup Too’ Luncheon in Fulton.
Hosted by Holy Trinity Parish, 309 Buffalo St., the luncheon will draw upon the agency’s theme of ‘Live United’ as the United Way invites community members to come together to break bread, warm their hearts, gather with friends and enjoy a delicious lunch of ‘Stone Soup while helping to support Oswego County’s struggling food pantries.
“With the success of last year’s ‘Stone Soup Too’ Luncheon we thought it would be a great idea to continue the luncheon and make it an annual event,” said Resource Development Director for the United Way, Lois Luber. “There is a dire need for food subsidy in our county. It is becoming increasingly difficult for our food pantries to meet this need. Our goal with the ‘Stone Soup Too’ luncheon is to not only raise awareness of this problem, but raise funds and provide food pantries in Oswego County with additional food.”
“The story of Stone Soup dates back to an event that took place in post-war Europe when the residents of an impoverished village all donated what they could to make a delicious meal that could feed the whole village. The moral of Stone Soup is that working together, with everyone contributing what they can, a greater good can be achieved,” explained Luber. “It is a reflection of the United Way’s ‘Live United’ concept. We are all connected. When you reach out and help someone in need that action has an effect that reverberates throughout the community. By supporting the United Way you not only bring comfort to those in need, you help inspire others to lend their support and ultimately enable us and our member agencies to serve even more families and individuals.”
“Our Stone Soup Too Luncheon is an excellent example of this, as a number of caring local businesses have come forward to donate the food and beverages necessary. Mimi’s, Blue Moon Grill, and The Foursome Dinner will be providing our soups; Dunkin’ Donuts is donating ‘Boxes of Joe’; C’s Farms will be providing the salads; Red Baron will provide rolls; Kathy’s Cakes and Joe’s Corner Market are donating cookies; and cake will be provided by Springside at Seneca Hill. There will even be table arrangements featuring canned soups, courtesy of Struppler’s Shurfine Market, that will be donated to the food pantries following the luncheon. In addition, the Fulton Lions Club has donated $500 for the purchase of food for our local food pantries. We have also received a number of items from local businesses so that those who attend will have the opportunity to be awarded a door prize every 15 minutes,” added Luber.
The United Way’s ‘Stone Soup Too’ Luncheon is open to the public and will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The United Way is accepting donations of $5 per person.
All proceeds from the luncheon will be used to support area food pantries.
Attendees are also encouraged to please bring a donation of non-perishable food as the United Way will be collecting donations for area food pantries including the Fulton and Oswego Salvation Army, Catholic Charities of Oswego County, Human Concerns, and the Oswego County Mental Health Association.
“Our food pantries are really feeling a strain this year and it is becoming especially challenging for them as they try to meet the demand for food subsidy throughout Oswego County,” added Luber. “The food collected, and the money raised at our ‘Stone Soup Too’ Luncheon will be greatly appreciated.”
Those unable to attend the luncheon but would like to donate food items may contact Helen Hoefer, director of Catholic Charities of Oswego County’s Emergency Services program, at 598-3980 for information on where to drop off non-perishable food donations throughout Oswego County.
For more information, call 593-1900.
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