United Way Stone Soup Luncheon Receives Rock Solid Support

December 1st, 2011

Fulton, NY ? Supporters of the United Way of Greater Oswego County filled the Parish Center of St. Joseph?s Church in Oswego as the community came together to enjoy a delicious meal of soup, salad and breads at the United Way?s ?Stone Soup? Holiday Luncheon. The United Way?s Annual Stone Soup Luncheon provides member agencies and their employees with an opportunity to get together and share a meal with the staff and board members of the United Way as well as community members who proudly support the efforts of the United Way.

?Our Stone Soup Holiday Luncheon was a great success, with more than 150 people in attendance we raised more than $1500.00 and collected hundreds of food items for our local food pantries. I want to thank the community members who attended, and our many caring sponsors who donated the food for our luncheon: The American Foundry, Bridie Manor, Canale?s Restaurant, GS Steamers, Oswego Country Club, Ruby Tuesday, Vona?s Restaurant, C?s Farms, Davis Bros., Bosco & Geers, and Cakes Galore; and those who donated gift cards for door prizes Cam?s Pizzeria, Advantage Carpet/Taylor Rental, Tesoriero Chiropractic, and Key Bank Oswego.

I especially extend thanks the Oswego Lions Club, Oswego Rotary International, and Boilermakers Union Local #5 for their generous monetary donations to our food pantries; the businesses who donated food or hosted food drives including; Oswego Health, 24-Hour Record Retriever & Abstract, Inc., Oswego Price Chopper, Shapiro Motors, Realty USA; and our dedicated volunteers: Dan, Helen and Christie Hoefer, Kathy and Kerrigan Cummins, Cathy Burt, Mary Kay Donovan, Jim McGann, Roxanna Gillen, Amanda Race, Chrystal Hoyt, Coach Diane Dillon, Lauren Gilpin and Jillian Bergeron of the SUNY Oswego Laker Women?s Ice Hockey Team, Laree Pease, Jackie Thorpe, our committee members; Chairperson, Aaron Thorpe, Shawn Seale, Helen Hoefer, Marion Ciciarelli and Deb Deeb, who helped prepare, serve and clean-up after the event which was graciously hosted by St. Joseph?s Church in their Parish Center. Their desire to support our local food pantries is a wonderful expression of dedication to their community, their concern for others and their willingness to ?Live United.?

All proceeds from the event, along with the food donations will be donated to food pantries throughout Oswego County.

Cut line for Food Photo: Stone Soup Committee Member, Aaron Thorpe of 24-Hour Record Retriever & Abstract in Oswego and Jackie Thorpe of the Greater Oswego-Fulton Chamber of Commerce were on hand to collect food donations during the United Way?s Annual Stone Soup Luncheon. Held November 10th at St. Joseph?s Church Parish Center, the event served more than 150 people and raised over $1,500.00 to help stock the shelves of food pantries throughout Oswego County.