United Way ?Stone Soup? Luncheon to aid Local Food Pantries

October 31st, 2013

Oswego, 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 Tuesday, November 12 the United Way of Greater Oswego County will hold it?s 8th Annual Stone Soup Luncheon at St. Joseph?s Parish Center, West First Street in Oswego.

Drawing upon the agency?s theme of ?It?s Our Community?and It?s Personal? 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. Held annually the United Way?s Stone Soup Luncheon helps to support food pantries throughout Oswego County. Local pantries are finding it difficult to keep their shelves filled and are bracing for a holiday season that will prove to be especially challenging as they struggle to meet the increased demand for food subsidy in Oswego County.

According to Lois Luber, resource development director for United Way of Greater Oswego County, this year?s Stone Soup Luncheon is once again receiving strong support. ?We are fortunate to have such generous, community minded sponsors,? said Luber. ?Since the inception of our Stone Soup Luncheon, Canale?s Restaurant and Vona?s Restaurants have provided their signature soups; Bosco and Geers, fresh baked rolls; and Cake?s Galore, a custom designed cake for dessert. Additionally, C?s Farms and Davis Bros. have provided fresh tossed salad and dressing for all of our ingredients for all Stone Soup events.?

The menu for this year?s Stone Soup Luncheon will also include: soups from Oswego Country Club, GS Steamers, Bridie Manor, and Ruby Tuesday; coffee courtesy of Dunkin? Donuts; water from Paul?s Big M; cookies from NY PENN Pathways Girls Scouts and the American Foundry. Additionally, Giovanni?s Foods has donated 6 cases of spaghetti sauce to support the food drive.

?The Mantra for United Way?s Annual Campaign is: It?s Our Community and it?s Personal! It?s one that our sponsors and our host for our Stone Soup Luncheon clearly believe in,? added Luber.

Open to the public, the United Way Stone Soup Luncheon will be held Tuesday, November 12th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at St. Joseph?s Parish Center, West First Street in Oswego. United Way will be accepting a donation of $5.00 per person and those attending are urged to bring a donation of non-perishable food items. All proceeds from the event, as well as the food that is collected, will be donated to local food pantries including Human Concerns Center, Catholic Charities of Oswego County, and Salvation Army of Oswego County.

Those unable to attend the luncheon but would like to donate food items may contact Helen Hoefer, supervisor 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.

Cut line for photo: Committee members and sponsors for the United Way of Greater Oswego County?s 8th Annual Stone Soup Luncheon meet finalize plans for this year?s event. Scheduled for Thursday, Tuesday, November 12th the luncheon will at held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in St. Joseph?s Parish Center, West First Street in Oswego. All proceeds from the event, as well as the food that is collected, will be donated to local food pantries. From left are: committee members Shawn Seale, of Key Bank; Committee Chair, Aaron Thorpe of Vanguard Title and Research; and Marion Ciciarelli of Oswego Health; and luncheon sponsors Nick Canale of Canale?s Restaurant and Chris Carpenter of the Oswego Country Club, and Lois Luber, resource development director for the United Way.