Drive-Thru Soupfest Returns April 5 to Soup-port Food Bank

The popular fundraiser that soup-ports Port Cares’ food bank is returning – drive-thru style – to the Reach Out Centre on Tuesday, April 5. 

“The community has loved our Soupfest event for more than a decade,” says Christine Clark Lafleur, Executive Director of Port Cares. “People loved the drive-thru style last year so we’ve decided to do it once again and keep the soup-er tradition going.” 

Last year’s event was a sold-out success, with Port Cares staff ladling close to 600 bowls of soup.

All proceeds from Soupfest fund the Reach Out Centre including the food bank, meal program as well as crisis intervention services and all sorts of family supports. 

A $25 ticket provides four portions of soup, biscuits and cookies in take-out containers. Ticket holders can pull up anytime between 11:30am – 5:00pm at the Reach Out Centre, 61 Nickel Street where they can choose their soups and will receive a bag of four soups, all while staying in their vehicle.  

This year’s soup menu: Caribbean Seafood, Tuscan Vegetable and Ramirez Hearty Chicken; an homage to the Reach Out Centre’s chef, Aldo Ramirez.

The soups and accompanying biscuits and cookies will be prepared at the Reach Out Centre in its public health inspected commercial kitchen--which provides 10,000 hot, nutritious meals to low-income individuals and families annually.

Port Cares Reach Out Centre relies on fundraising and donations to operate. Clark Lafleur says the umbrella agency does not receive government funding to run the Reach Out Centre and relies fully on charitable donations and fundraising.

More than 1,700 people are registered to receive assistance through the food bank which has seen a 35 per cent increase in the number of people who need help since the pandemic started. 

Pre-pandemic, there were 380 individuals registered for the meal program and that’s now at 740.‍

GETTING TICKETS:‍

Tickets can be purchased online by sending an e-transfer to donations@portcares.ca and must include “Soupfest” and your email in the description. Tickets will then be emailed to you.

They are also available in-person at Port Cares main entry at 92 Charlotte Street, Monday to Friday 8:30am to 4:30pm. 

A limited amount of tickets will also be sold at Boggio’s Pharmacy in Port.‍

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This year’s drive-thru Soupfest Sponsors:
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DOUBLE GOLDEN LADLE

JTL, Trenergy Inc. and CAN-ENG Furnaces International Ltd.

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GOLDEN LADLE

Jungbunzlauer

REMAX Niagara Sold by Kate

Boggio’s Family of Pharmacies

SILVER SPOON

Pinty’s & Olymel

WOODEN SPOON

CAA Niagara

Splashtown Niagara

Sessions Port Colborne

Rudders 

Ben Berg Farm & Industrial Equipment

Eden Electric

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