With about 800 people helping raise more than $60,000, Soup Sunday set a record Feb. 23 at the Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale.
About 30 local businesses donated soup, bread, dessert and drinks for Soup Sunday, which benefits Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families, said Laura Kellams, the organization's Northwest Arkansas director. Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families is a nonprofit organization working to ensure all children and their families have the resources and opportunities to lead healthy and productive lives and to realize their full potential, according to the nonprofit's website, aradvocates.org. The event helps pay for the expense of operating a Northwest Arkansas office for Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families. Last year's total was about $51,500, Kellams said.
AT A GLANCE
Soup Sunday
Who: Arkansas Advocates for Children and Families
When: Feb. 23
Where: Northwest Arkansas Convention Center in Springdale
Amount raised: More than $60,000
Information: 927-9800 or aradvocates.org
Fast Facts
Soup Lineup at Soup Sunday
AQ Chicken House — Chicken Noodle
Bleu Monkey Grill — Chicken Artichoke
Bordinos — Cream of Tomato
Briar Rose Bakery — Southwest Chicken
Crabby’s Seafood Bar & Grill — Seafood Chowder
Creative Kitchens — White Chicken Chili
Cafe Rue Orleans — Crawfish Corn Bisque
Flying Fish — Shrimp Gumbo and Jambalaya
Greenhouse Grille — Locally Grown Butternut Squash Bisque
Green Bean — Fresh Shitake Mushroom, Spicy Chicken and Vegetarian Black Bean
Hammontree’s Grilled Cheese — Tomato and Fresh Basil
Hog Haus Brewing Company — Ribeye Stew
Holiday Inn — Chicken Tortilla
Little Bread Co. — Tomato Basil
Marketplace Grill — Chicken Tortilla
Mojitos Mexican Grill — Tortilla Soup
Olive Garden — Fagioli (Italian Chili)
Ozark Natural Foods — Coconut Lentil and Loaded Baked Potato
Springdale Country Club — Beer Cheese Soup, Creamy Roasted Garlic and Potato Chowder
Spring Street Grill -Garden Vegetable
Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe — Lemon Chicken
The Farmer’s Table Cafe — Farmer’s Harvest Soup and Chicken Pot Pie Soup
The Hive — Cauliflower Soup
Vetro 1925 — Butternut Squash with Walnut Oil
6494 Bistro — Tomato Basil
The event also featured its first silent auction, which included close to 100 items, she said. It raised more than $7,000.
Kellams said her favorite part of the event is seeing all the people who come -- from major philanthropists to families.
"It's just a really eclectic group of people from all walks of life in Northwest Arkansas," Kellams said.
Breads were provided by Panera Bread Bakery Cafe and Serenity Farm Bread. Ice cream sundaes were served by Breyers Ice Cream. Coffee was by Arsaga's Coffee Roasters, and lemonade was donated by Back Yard Burgers Catering.
Music was provided by the McFetridge Jazz Combo.
NAN Profiles on 03/02/2014