RELEASE: Same great price for a hearty & helpful meal
The popular fundraiser that soup-ports Port Cares’ food bank and Reach Out Centre brings the same great eats for the same affordable price on Tuesday, April 4th.
“Soup-fest is one of Port Cares tried and true community events and fundraisers,” says Christine Clark Lafleur, Executive Director of Port Cares. “We’re once again offering up a drive-thru grab and go format to serve as many community members as we can. Our food bank services are the busiest that we have ever experienced and we.”
Last year’s event was a sold-out success, with Port Cares staff ladling close to 644 bowls of soup.
All proceeds from Soupfest fund the Reach Out Centre including the food bank, meal program as well as crisis intervention services, and all sorts of family support.
Tickets will stay the same price as in previous years to help in the fight against inflation. $25 will get you four portions of soup, biscuits, and brownies to take home. Ticket holders can pull up anytime between 11:30 am – 5:00 pm at the Reach Out Centre, 61 Nickel Street, and choose their soups all while staying in their vehicle.
This year’s soup menu: Ham & Split Pea, Mixed Bean Vegetable, and Turkey Noodle. The soups, accompanying biscuits, and brownies will be prepared at the Reach Out Centre in its public health-inspected commercial kitchen -- which provides10,000 hot, nutritious meals to low-income individuals and families annually.
Port Cares Reach Out Centre relies on fundraising and donations to operate. ClarkLafleur says the charity does not receive government funding to run the Reach Out Centre and relies entirely on charitable donations and fundraising.
Last year 1,700 people were registered to receive assistance through the food bank – that was up by more than 400 people at the beginning of the pandemic. Now the number of local residents has jumped exponentially to 2,610– of which more than 30 per cent are children living in low income households.“ To put it in perspective our food bank is helping at least one out of eight local residents in Port Colborne.”
Pre-pandemic, there were 436 individuals registered for the meal program and now there are over 861.
GETTING TICKETS:
Tickets can be purchased online by sending an e-transfer to donations@portcares.ca and must include “Soupfest” and your email in the description. Tickets will then be emailed to you.
They are also available in person at Port Cares main entry at 92 Charlotte Street, Monday to Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
Thank you to this year's Soupfest Sponsors to date:
GOLDEN LADLE
WOODEN SPOON
Special thank you to our media sponsors:
Photos are available upon request.
Interview contact:
Christine Clark Lafleur
Executive Director, Port Cares
905-834-3629 ext. 248
92 Charlotte Street, Port Colborne, ON L3K 3E1
