Souper Bowl supports food banks

SHALLOTTE—Souper Bowl Saturday might not be as popular as Super Bowl Sunday, but give it time.

Sadie Hall, 6, and Katie Hall, 3, show off the super bowls they received when mom Vicki Hall brought them to Saturday’s GFWC-South Brunswick Islands Woman’s Club Souper Bowl fundraiser.

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Staff photos by Brian Slattery

Beth Michelakis, right, picks out gift bowls for Donna Byrd, left, and Alysa Walker as part of the GFWC-South Brunswick Islands Woman’s Club Souper Bowl fundraiser.

Staff photos by Brian Slattery

Julie Wolfe and Donna Geise, members of the Holden Beach Women’s Club, show their Saturday for the GFWC-South Brunswick Islands Woman’s Club Souper Bowl fundraiser, and enjoy some soup served by Kelly Barefoot.

Staff photos by Brian Slattery

Jeanne and Larry Gray are happy to support a good cause and get lunch at Saturday’s GFWC-South Brunswick Islands Woman’s Club Souper Bowl fundraiser.

Staff photos by Brian Slattery

Ellie Kistler, 8, grandmother Carol Graham and mom Cammie Kistler make Souper Bowl Saturday a family affair. They have made it to the GFWC-South Brunswick Islands Woman’s Club fundraiser three years running.

Staff photos by Brian Slattery

Becky Dare of Sunset Beach eagerly awaits her Minestrone soup bowl, served by Kelly Barefoot of the GFWC-South Brunswick Islands Woman’s Club.

The GFWC-South Brunswick Islands Woman’s Club hosted the fundraiser in the fellowship hall at Shallotte Presbyterian Church for the fourth year this past Saturday.

“It’s a great community event,” Cindy Hewett, GFWC-NC District 7 president, said.

This is our fourth year and it has grown every year.”

Hewett said the Woman’s Club anticipates it will raise $5,000, with $4,000 already collected from ticket sales.

This year, the Souper Bowl supports the South Brunswick Interchurch Council food pantry, Brunswick Family Assistance and Backpacks Full of Blessings.

Ken Papaj, chairman of the board for Brunswick Family Assistance, appreciated the work put in by the Woman’s Club.

“We rely on the support of the community, and this is another example of the amazing generosity of the community to help people in need,” Papaj said. “We’re fortunate they chose Brunswick Family Assistance to help with our food pantry.”

Papaj said the food pantry is seeing historic numbers of people coming for assistance.

“There is a lot of need out there,” he said. “This is a real testament to helping those who can’t help themselves.”

Mary Pritchard, food pantry coordinator for the South Brunswick Interchurch Council at Camp United Methodist Church, said the 20-church initiative has maintained a food pantry since 1998 and appreciates groups like the Shallotte Women’s Club, which has been involved with SBIC since the Souper Bowl began four years ago.

Pritchard said they have served more than 21,000 people at the food pantry.

“It really helps the recipients of these efforts,” Pritchard said. “Unfortunately the numbers mean folks need help.”

Soups were prepared by Olive Garden of Wilmington, Purple Onion, Angelo’s, Subway, Duffers, Chili’s of Shallotte, Capt. Pete’s of Holden Beach, Subway Deli, The Grapevine Restaurant of Calabash and several clubwomen who donated homemade soup.

Each ticket holder also received a hand-made bowl, donated by local potters.

Brian Slattery is a staff writer for The Brunswick Beacon. Reach him at 754-6890 or bslattery@brunswickbeacon.com.