Chatham ‘Soup Sisters’ Stir Up Soup For 'Homeless Solutions'

CHATHAM, NJ — It was a ladies’ night out for a good cause when moms from the Long Hill Christian Preschool met up recently to make soup for people in need.

Lindsay Kaye Groendyk, the preschool’s director, told Patch that she works closely with the school’s Parent Advisory Committee to organize ladies’ night out events during the school year.

Long Hill Christian Preschool offers a Christ-centered educational program at 525 Shunpike Road, with more about the school at www.lhchristianpreschool.com.

Last school year, one of the mothers, Jody Gordon, told Groendyk about “Soup Sisters,” a project with Healthy Italia - La Buona Cucina, in Madison, where on-site and virtual cooking classes happen, an Italian cooking instructor leading.

At Healthy Italia, the participating moms made soup for the Morris County organization, "Homeless Solutions" and then enjoyed dinner together.

Nicknamed a “hug in a bowl,” the Soup Sisters non-profit movement was started in Canada. At Healthy Italia, it is a two-hour event, where containers of soup are prepared and given back to help others in need.

Groendyk said it’s the second year the Long Hill Christian Preschool moms have become Soup Sisters, describing their evening together as “so touching.”

See all of the photos below of the moms enjoying their night preparing soup together:

“We were able to learn more about Soup Sisters and the homeless organization we were making the soup for - Homeless Solutions,” she added. “To our surprise, none of us have heard of the homeless shelter that is located in our backyard.”

The Morris County-based group, which goes by the motto of giving a “hand-up” rather than a “hand out,” Groendyk said, inspired all the attendees that night to learn more about helping Homeless Solutions, a group that provides shelter, services and supportive housing for those among the homeless and working poor who are in Morris County.

“There are so many different ways to volunteer,” said Groendyk, “I encourage everyone to think about contributing this holiday season."

“It would be a great way for family to come together and help our local area,” she said.

Want to help make soup for people in need? Find out more about the events at Healthy Italia at www.healthy-italia.com.

Learn more about Soup Sisters at www.soupsisters.org and here for local efforts with Soup Sisters at the Soup Sisters New Jersey Facebook Page.

Find out more about Homeless Solutions at www.homelesssolutions.org.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a local news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.