United Way ?Stone Soup? Luncheon to aid Local Food Pantries
October 14th, 2014
Oswego, NY ? In keeping with is mission of ending hunger, helping youth succeed, and improving the overall health and well-being of our communities 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 November 13th United Way of Greater Oswego County will hold its 9th Annual Stone Soup Luncheon at St. Joseph?s Parish Center, 240 West First Street in Oswego.
The United Way invites community members to come together to break bread, warm their hearts, gather with friends, and enjoy a delicious lunch.? 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 Ali McGrath, Interim Resource Development Director for United Way of Greater Oswego County, this year?s Stone Soup Luncheon is once again receiving strong support from some of Oswego?s favorite restaurants, eateries, and grocers.
?We are fortunate to have such generous, community minded sponsors.? This year, we are pleased to announce that a new restaurant has joined us for our Stone Soup Luncheon.? The Press Box will add their famous Sausage Vegetable soup to a menu that includes signature soups from long time donors Vona?s Restaurant, and Canale?s Restaurant; Oswego County Country Club and Bridie Manor.?
McGrath added that the luncheon menu also includes fresh baked rolls from Bosco and Geers; tossed salad and dressing from Davis Brothers; coffee courtesy of Dunkin? Donuts, water from Paul?s Big M. cookies from the American Foundry and a custom designed cake compliments of Cake?s Galore.
Open to the public, the United Way Stone Soup Luncheon will be held November 13th from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at St. Joseph?s Parish Center, 240 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. .? ?Giovanni?s Foods has gotten our food collection underway with a donation of several cases of spaghetti sauce and we hope to add much more to that with the donations we receive at our Stone Soup Luncheon,? added McGrath.
All proceeds from the United Way?s Stone Soup Luncheon, 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 Tim Archer at 315-598-3980 x 253 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 9th Annual Stone Soup Luncheon meet to discuss plans for this year?s event.? Scheduled for Thursday November 13th the luncheon will at held from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in St. Joseph?s Parish Center, 240 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 Marion Ciciarelli of Oswego Health; Ali Scanlon with son Dominic Scanlon from the Press Box; Ali McGrath and Lois Luber with the United Way of Greater Oswego County; and Aaron Thorpe of Vanguard Title and Research. Absent from photo are committee members MaryLue Ferguson and Helen Hoefer.