Volunteers work to help soup kitchen
Karen Peterson
Volunteers were kept busy serving hundreds at the annual WinterFest.
Karen Peterson
John Payne visits with diners at the “Soup’s On” fundraiser held at the Elks Club Saturday.
Karen Peterson
Bison, salmon, salad and more made for a plentiful buffet.
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
Karen Peterson
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POLSON – Volunteers holding plates full of entrees rushed through the crowd of people at the Elks Club ballroom on Saturday evening to make sure the food buffet line didn’t run out during the seventh annual Winter Fest.
Hundreds of people filled their plates during the event. Rev. John Payne moved about the room shaking hands and making sure everyone got enough to eat.
Rev. Payne helped start the event as a fundraiser to finance a community food program called “Soups On” at the Wander Inn soup kitchen, at the Journey Be Church at 101 Seventh Ave. W.
“This program is very ecumenical,” he said, explaining that many religious groups help support the program. “Every denomination you can think of gets together to help run this.”
The community soup kitchen is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“We’ve served 60,000 lunches in the past seven years,” he said.
Susan Evans helped start the program. She said it began as a way to feed people in need, from the homeless to the elderly.
“We also found that people come in if they are lonely,” she said. Those folks that can, leave a monetary donation in the jar to help buy supplies.
The soup is often cooked up with a gourmet touch.
“We’ve had salmon Florentine and Asian meatball,” said Maureen Theiler, volunteer. “I love cooking. It’s my passion, and I love making the soup.”
When the fundraising first started for the soup kitchen, Rev. Payne and other volunteers stayed in a tipi set up outside in the cold winter months.
“We weren’t coming in until we raised $2,000,” he said.
It hasn’t been cold enough to hold such an event in recent years, so the volunteers developed the buffet dinner and dance, along with an auction, that bring in on average $10,000 a year. Auctioneer Cliff Rustad traveled 401 miles from Malta, Montana, to auction off various donated items.
“This is a great event,” he said. “I help out any way I can.”
Ron and Dee Walker stood behind the buffet, dishing up plates with bison or salmon dinner and fixings as people passed through the line. The couple was married 63 years ago and often volunteer together. Ron was in charge of the corn during the event.
“It seems like a bigger crowd this year,” he said. “I think it gets a little bigger every year.”
Dee Walker agreed with her husband about the crowd.
“We do this as a service to the community,” she said before quickly adding a bit of butter to the roasted salmon on the next plate coming through the line.
Mason Niblack, 16, volunteered to pick up finished plates during the event. He started volunteering for various programs with his grandma about 10 years ago. Now that he is an “old pro” at it, he is given more responsibility.
“I get a kick out of helping,” he said. “And I get to taste the wonderful food.”
Many people said they volunteer for the project to help others, but Evans has another reason.
“If you want to make yourself feel good then do something for someone else,” she said. “We could always use more donations and volunteers.”
Those interested in volunteering or making a donation, should contact the folks at the Wander Inn. They can be reached at 406-883-5160 or 406-871-1109.
