The Shadow
CLIFTON FORGE, Va. (VR) – John Hillert Soup-er Sunday is scheduled for Sunday, November 9 as a Take-Out Event again this year.
Area chefs or groups will be cooking hearty soups, stews and chilies for the public to enjoy during the h eleventh annual John Hillert Soup-er Sunday at the Masonic Amphitheatre and Underground. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Clifton Forge Area Food Pantry.
The Historic Masonic Theatre staff and volunteers have once again planned to make the Food Pantry fundraiser a take-out event much like take-out at a fast food restaurant. The response from area chefs has been overwhelming. In past years the soup sold out before the Sunday deadline. This year, two dozen plus soups are offered— 288 quarts at $12.00 a quart. Some chefs are making extra quarts to have on sale the day of the soup pick-up on November 9.
To order soup and to see the complete menu of soups, go online at www.historicmasonictheatre.com select the Soup-er Sunday event, follow the prompts and order soups. You may also call the Theatre at 540 862 5655 to order. The soups will be available for pick-up at the Masonic Amphitheatre alley at 513 Church Street on Sunday, November 9 from 12:30 pm to 2:30 pm. Masonic Theatre Board members and volunteers will deliver the soup to each vehicle; customers can stay in the comfort of their vehicles.
Soup will also be available to purchase the day of the event (while supplies last), by entering the alley and choosing from the menu, just as one does at a fast-food restaurant. The soup will be delivered to the vehicle, and payment will be made at that time.
As in the past, area chefs donate their time, talent and ingredients to make the day a success. The menu of soups is extensive and includes favorites from previous years. Area chefs and businesses are making and donating soup.
All Soup-er Sunday participants are donating their time so that as much money as possible may be raised for the Food Pantry during this particularly busy time of year. The Food Pantry serves Clifton Forge, Iron Gate, Millboro, Hot Springs, areas of Covington, Eagle Rock and anyone with an emergency and provides food for over 350 families per month. Evelyn Cooper, president of the Food Pantry states, “Our food is very low at this time…. the worse we have seen it– especially canned goods. Buying case lots is expensive. With the economy as it is, our client base is growing weekly and as cold weather is upon us with large utility bills that must be paid, our clients struggle to feed their families. This food pantry is vital to the community and operates from donations of food and money to sustain its operation. The John Hillert Soup-er Sunday is a great event to attend and has been a huge success for helping the food pantry accomplish its goals to meet the need in the community”.
Proceeds from the Soup-er Sunday event enables purchased food to last for several months. In addition to purchasing soups, donations may also be made to the Clifton Forge Area Food Pantry. You may also bring canned food to donate when picking up your soup order on November 9. Wendy Hudler, director of operations at the The Historic Masonic Theatre remarked, “This year marks the eleventh annual John Hillert Soup-er Sunday. From the very beginning, this event has been extremely popular. This is a delicious way to fill your freezer and simultaneously help our Food Pantry!
Thank you to all our chefs; our new chefs and our returning chefs, who make this a part of their annual routine.”
Soup-er Sunday is named in memory of John Hillert who was instrumental in implementing the concept of the Soup-er Sunday fund raiser for the Food Pantry and worked hard with volunteers to present the first Soup-er Sunday. In 2016, Hillert, was diagnosed with stage four non-smoker’s lung cancer and died on May 18, 2017 but was an active committee member and attended 2016’s event in his wheel chair.
To learn more, please visit the Clifton Forge Area Food Pantry Facebook page. The event is sponsored by The Historic Masonic Theatre.
