United Way Holiday Luncheon To Feature ‘Stone Soup’

Submitted Article

OSWEGO, NY – This year’s annual United Way Holiday Luncheon will draw upon the agency’s theme of ‘Live United’ as the United Way invites community members to come together to enjoy a festive holiday event with music, entertainment, great door prizes and a delicious lunch of ‘Stone Soup.’

Lois Luber, resource development director for the United Way of Greater Oswego County explains: “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. 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 holiday luncheon is an excellent example of this as a number of caring local businesses have come forward to donate the food and beverages necessary. Canale’s Restaurant and Vona’s Restaurant are providing our ‘Stone Soup’; C’s Farms will provide the fixings for our salads, which will be prepared by the Blue Moon Grill; Bosco & Geers have provided us with rolls; Cakes Galore and SUNY Oswego Auxiliary Services are donating the desserts; and Tim Horton’s will be providing water, coffee and cookies.  Even our table decorations, consisting of Dements spaghetti sauce and pasta, which will be donated to local food pantries following the event, have been donated by Giovanni Foods and Paul’s Big M. In addition, the Oswego Lions Club donated $500 for the purchase of food for our local food pantries,” added Luber.

The United Way’s Holiday Luncheon is open to the public and will be held at 11:30 a.m. Dec. 9 at St. Joseph’s Parish Center, West First Street.

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 the holiday season will be especially challenging for them as they try to meet the demand for food subsidy throughout Oswego County,” added Luber. “The food collected at our holiday luncheon will be greatly appreciated.”

Those unable to attend the luncheon but would like to donate food items may contact Judy Egan, coordinator of Catholic Charities of Oswego County’s Emergency Services program and president of the Food Pantry Association of Oswego County at 598-3980 for information on where to drop off non-perishable food donations throughout Oswego County.

For more information, or to make reservations to attend the United Way of Greater Oswego County’s Annual Holiday Luncheon, call 593-1900 no later than Dec. 8. missing or outdated ad config

Print this entry