United Way Brings ?Stone Soup Too? Luncheon to Fulton

March 6th, 2014

Fulton, NY ? With the need for food subsidy increasing and food pantries throughout Oswego County being hard pressed to meet the growing demand, the United Way of Greater Oswego County is doing its part to raise awareness of the food shortage in Oswego County and encourage the community to help fill the shelves of our area food pantries. On Thursday, March 20th the United Way of Greater Oswego County will hold their 6th Annual Stone ?Soup Too? Luncheon in Fulton.

Hosted by Holy Trinity Parish, 309 Buffalo Street in Fulton, the United Way?s ?Stone Soup? Too Luncheon will draw upon the agency?s theme of ?It?s Our Community?and It?s Personal? as the United Way invites community members to come together to break bread, warm their hearts, gather with friends, and enjoy a delicious lunch of ?Stone Soup while helping to support Oswego County?s food pantries that are struggling to meet the increasing demand for their services.

?This is our 6th year for our Stone Soup Too luncheon,? said Lois Luber, Resource Development Director for the United Way of Greater Oswego County. ?It is the effort of our volunteers and committee members, and most importantly the strong support we receive from the community who return year after year to enjoy great food and fellowship that makes our Stone Soup Too luncheon such a success.?

To date a number of caring local businesses have come forward to donate the food and beverages necessary for the Stone Soup Luncheon. Soups will be provided by: Mimi?s Drive-In, Cheeseburger Soup; Blue Moon Grill, Cream of Broccoli; The Foursome Dinner, Ministrone; and Tavern on the Lock, Vegetable Beef and Barley. Dunkin? Donuts is donating ?Boxes of Joe?; C?s Farms & Davis Bros. will be providing the salad fixings; Red Baron will provide rolls; Kathy?s Cakes and Joe?s Corner Market are donating cookies; Hudson?s Dairy providing water, and cake will be provided by Springside at Seneca Hill. Luber added that there would be table arrangements featuring canned soups, courtesy of Struppler?s Shurfine Market, that will be donated to the food pantries following the luncheon and that the Fulton Lions Club has donated $500 for the purchase of food for our local food pantries.

In addition to the luncheon, those in attendance will have the opportunity to win a number of door prizes, including: gifts from Blue Moon Grill, Cayuga Community College, Price Chopper and Unique Hair Shoppe.

The United Way?s ?Stone Soup Too? Luncheon is open to the public and will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Thursday, March 20th at Holy Trinity Parish, 309 Buffalo Street in Fulton. The United Way is accepting donations of $5 per person. All proceeds from the luncheon will be used to support area food pantries. Attendees are also encouraged to please bring a donation of non-perishable food, as the United Way will be collecting donations for area food pantries including the Salvation Army of Oswego County and Catholic Charities of Oswego County.

?Our food pantries are really feeling a strain this year and it is becoming especially challenging for them as they try to meet the demand for food subsidy throughout Oswego County,? added Luber. ?The food collected, and the money raised at our ?Stone Soup Too? Luncheon will be greatly appreciated.?

Those unable to attend the luncheon but would like to donate food items may contact Tim Archer, director of Catholic Charities of Oswego County?s Emergency Services program at 315-598-3980 for information on where to drop off non-perishable food donations throughout Oswego County.

For more information contact your United Way office at 315-593-1900.

Cut line for photo: United Way?s ?Stone Soup Too? Luncheon returns to Fulton. Committee members for the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s 6th Annual ?Stone Soup Too? Luncheon in Fulton meet to finalize details for the event. Scheduled for Thursday, March 20th the luncheon will at held at 11:30 a.m. at Holy Trinity Parish, 309 Buffalo Street in Fulton and serves as a fundraiser for food pantries throughout Oswego County. Seated from left are: Sue Witmer, Cayuga Community College Fulton Campus; Tim Archer or Catholic Charities of Oswego County; and Steve Chirello of Chirello Advertising. Standing from left are: Karen Hubel of Blue Moon Grill; Lori Lyon of Walmart Super Center in Granby; and Stephanie Budd, of Oswego County Opportunities (OCO). Absent from photo are committee members; Michelle Sherman (Walmart); Jo-Lyn Phillips, (OCO); Helen Hoefer, (Catholic Charities); Community Volunteer Janet Rebeor; Gina Camardello, (Key Bank); and Catherine Trowbridge, (City of Fulton).