Local restaurants show off soups at Westchester Food Pantry Souperbowl

Westchester IL - On Saturday, February 4, 2023, the Westchester Food Pantry is excited to once again host its popular Souper Bowl! Last year, despite the COVID winter surge, the third annual Souper Bowl event held in February 2022 raised nearly $10,000 for the pantry with over 200 supporters participating. This delicious tasting event featured eighteen local chefs and their best soups, raffles, silent auctions, and entertainment. The pantry has high expectations that the 2023 event will be a successful fundraiser as well as a fun community event that will allow friends and volunteers to connect with other pantry supporters.

"We organize this event every year to raise funds for the pantry, and also to draw attention to the delicious restaurants in our community," said Amanda Grant, the WFP's executive director. "We hope that in supporting the mission of the pantry that people will also rediscover local restaurant gems." According to Grant, for the first six months of 2022, the Pantry served about 1,900 client households, or 6,100 individuals. This is a 52% increase over the same period in 2021. "Our clients were provided with 75 tons of food, which equates to 125,000 meals at a retail value of $750,000. Each client receives over $350 worth of groceries, every time they come to the Pantry."

Tickets for the event will go on sale in January 2023. Businesses or individuals can support this annual event by becoming a sponsor, or donating an item or gift certificate for the raffle or silent auction. Sponsorship levels range from the $500 Bronze sponsorship to the $5000 Platinum sponsorship. Families are welcome to honor and recognize a loved one who believes in the mission of the pantry by giving a sponsorship in their name. Contact the pantry directly at WestchesterFoodPantry@gmail.com to learn more. Sponsors for the 2023 Souper Bowl will be gifting the Westchester Food Pantry with approximately $10 of buying power through the Greater Chicago Food Depository for every $1 donated.

The Westchester Food Pantry now serves over 400 households each month from the communities of Berkeley, Bellwood, Broadview, Hillside, Hines, La Grange Park, Westchester, and Western Springs. With the recent high inflation rates, the number of households served has increased by 75%. The pantry is open twice a week for clients to receive fresh produce, frozen meat, canned goods, dairy products, bakery goods, and even pet food for their furry family members. Westchester Food Pantry is entirely volunteer-run and relies on donations to meet clients’ needs.

The pantry, open every Wednesday from 4-7pm and Saturday from 9-11am, is located at 1938 S. Mannheim Road, Westchester, IL.