Annual Winterfest raises money for free lunches, dinners served at ‘Soup’s On’
Steve Pickel photo
Artist Denise Zemke describes the process she used to create her “Butterflies are Free” chair for charity during the live auction portion of Winterfest. Zemke was one of several local artists who donated their time and talents in support of free lunches and dinners served at Soup’s On in Polson.
Steve Pickel photo
Steve Pickel photo
Hundreds of people attended Winterfest in support of Soup’s On. The event included spaghetti dinner and dessert, a silent and live auction, a quilt raffle, a 50/50 raffle and live music by Rob and Halladay Quist.
Steve Pickel photo
Rob Quist
Steve Pickel photo
Halladay Quist
Steve Pickel photo
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The dinner line wound down and around tables spanning the length of the Polson Elks Club and still the people kept coming. While chilly temperatures outside hovered in the mid 30s, the atmosphere inside was of warmth and camaraderie.
Friends and neighbors conversed while they waited in the spaghetti dinner buffet line. Others perused silent and live auction items or bought 50/50 or quilt raffle tickets.
Based on dinner ticket sales, more than 300 people attended the annual Winterfest fundraiser in support of “Soup’s On.”
Homemade soups, usually a vegetarian and a meat option, are served free of charge Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Soup’s On. A dessert, coffee and sometimes tea round out the menu and are served on real plates from a commercial grade kitchen.
“The whole purpose of the soup kitchen is to let people who can’t afford lunch come there because we don’t charge,” said JourneyBe Reverend John Payne. “But there are also people who come to socialize… it’s been a great outreach for the Polson area.”
Originally an endeavor of JourneyBe Church, Payne says Soup’s On has been embraced and supported by the entire community.
To help families who struggle to make ends meet at the end of the month, a free family table dinner is also served on the last Friday of the month.
“We’re pushing 63,000 total meals (served) over 7 years,” Payne said. “The community has really rallied around it. We have teams come in from all of the different churches.”
Community members, volunteers from local organizations and businesses, including Polson Pizza Hut, also regularly pitch in to help as do local gardeners.
“We have a lot of people that grow organic food who will donate things like potatoes, carrots, celery,” Payne said.
While every contribution helps, other food items still need to be purchased. Overall, it takes approximately $10,000 a year to keep the kitchen running.
Winterfest is the main source of funding for Soup’s On and every year the event grows. This year the event brought in $9,400 – all of which will be used to for operating funds.“The community has found (the Winterfest) to be a great gathering of people who haven’t seen each other in a while. This community really rallies behind the poor and disadvantaged.” Payne said. “They come out to help.”
For more information about Soup’s On call 406-883-5160.
