Mother’s Cupboard Community Kitchen will have their annual Soup Bowl Benefit on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Season’s Conference Center at 560 State Road 46. Board President Sandy Richardson told the Democrat that the Soup Bowl Benefit is their largest fundraiser throughout the year.
“Mothers Cupboard is a nonprofit organization solely funded by donation to operate,” Richardson said. “We use incoming monetary donations to pay utilities, insurance, employees, buy food, the products we use to serve food in, building and equipment repair to name a few. Everything is funded by donation. We do apply for grants for different things such as equipment etcetera, but the majority of expenses are paid from money we receive from donation or fundraisers.”
Mother’s Cupboard Community Kitchen located in the Brown County Fairgrounds has been assessing the community for 25 years by offering a free hot meal as well as food pantry access to things like bread, canned goods, produce, toiletries and other foods Monday through Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The kitchen provides hot meals for between an estimated 150 and 200 people each day, Richardson said.
“Our volunteers are united in their mission to welcome any resident in need to Mother’s Cupboard six days a week, where they will receive with no questions asked a hot meal for themselves, their family and their neighbors,” Richardson said. “With the support of many who generously donate money, food and time in our kitchen, we are meeting the challenge.”
The benefit will have live music, a silent auction and of course — a bowl of soup. The soup will be served in handmade bowls made by local potters that attendees can take home with them at the end of the night. All proceeds from the silent auction will benefit Mother’s Cupboard.
Richardson said that they have lots of items in the silent auction within different price ranges for minimum bids. A few of the items include art, jewelry, John Mellencamp memorabilia, a television, sports tickets, amusement park tickets, items from local shops and more.
“I’ve even had personal friends in different parts of the country send items for our silent auction because they feel what we are doing here is so important,” Richardson said.
Tickets for the benefit are $30 for adults and $5 for kids ages 12 and under, but kids tickets do not include a bowl.
“We provide all who come to the event with disposable bowls to sample the soups in, including kids, so yes, they get soup!” Richardson said, “That way those adults purchasing at full ticket price do not have to use their potters bowl for soup tasting. Kids can pick a potter bowl if their parent wants to pay full price for a ticket for them. We also do have a $5 table for bowls that have come our way from students at Bloomington North High School. Parents can utilize that option as well for their kids if they really want a bowl.”
Advance tickets can be purchased at the Brown County IGA or Visitor’s Center. They will also be available at the door.
