Winter Fest funds free soup lunches
Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local.
You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.
POLSON — Female vocalist Robin Geoff of Bigfork’s Blue Smoke crooned songs such as Etta James’ “At Last” at Mission Valley Elks Lodge Saturday, where mason jars glowed on dinner tables alongside antique kitchen implements, enamel wear and horseshoes.
Attendees basked in the cowboy theme, the Montana backyard barbecue and the music, and it was all for a good cause — Soup’s On.
To help address hunger and homelessness, Soup’s On offers a free hot lunch Monday through Thursday. Since its inception six years ago, Soup’s On has served more than 50,000 lunches of soup, bread, dessert, coffee or tea — with an all-volunteer crew.
Working the fundraiser was a family affair for the Niblacks. Zana chaired the food committee, her great-granddaughter Victoria took tickets for the dinner, son Steven and his wife Mary grilled the ribs and Mason, Zana’s husband, served the juicy barbecue topped with Flathead cherry sauce.
“All the Niblacks in Montana are helping,” Mason said.
Before and after dinner many of the attendees browsed and bid at the silent auction featuring items from oil changes to jewelry to paintings to a black leather Viking helmet.
“We have lots of good stuff. People are so generous,” said Alice Erb, committee chair for Winter Fest’s auction.
John Payne pastors Journey Be, the mother ship of Soup’s On and the Wander Inn, where the soup is served. For Winter Fest, Payne got into the theme with a straw hat, jeans and cowboy boots. He said he was pleased with the number of friends and neighbors who attended.
Donations totaled $1,200, with an anonymous $500 gift and the 50/50 drawing raising about $370, according to Payne.
The money will buy a lot of food for Soup’s On and help refurbish an apartment at Journey Be.
To donate to the cause, checks can be dropped off or mailed to Soup’s On, 101 Seventh Ave. W., Polson, MT 59860.
