The annual SouperFest, a benefit for the Concord Coalition to End Homelessness, will be held March 26 at White Park.
SouperFest is a springfest, a time when we are more than ready to be out in the fresh spring air enjoying a selection of local soups, while listening to the State Street Jazz Band playing New Orleans influenced music with energy.
This year, eight of Concord’s finest eateries are preparing their most sought-after soup for you to pre-order for this take-out event. The eight eateries and the soup that they will prepare for SouperFest are: The Barley House (Pumpkin Apple Bisque); Col’s Kitchen (Chili); The Common Man (House Clam Chowder); Concord Food Co-op (Hungarian Mushroom Ale); Hermanos Cocina Mexicana (Vegetarian Chili); O Steaks & Seafood (Corn and Bacon Chowder); Revival Kitchen and Bar (Mushroom, Beef and Barley); and The Works Café (Lentil Soup).
Although this is a takeout event, weather permitting, guest are encouraged to bring a chair and have a spring picnic in the park. Each soup is 8 oz. and must be ordered in advance, online at concordhomeless.org for a $5 donation. The CCEH website also contains full event details. Soup quantities are limited and available on a first come basis by pre-ordering only at the CCEH website. Due to limited supply, many soups will likely again sell out before the event, so day-of, walk-up purchases may be very limited, or not available.
Greg Lessard, CCEH Director of Housing Initiatives and the event organizer said, “SouperFest continues to be a tremendous testament to the Concord community’s compassion, generosity, and commitment to ending homelessness. This was evidenced when the call went out to local restaurants to ask them to donate soup for the event. Although over the past two years’ restaurants have had a challenging time, eight local restaurants immediately confirmed their commitment to the event. Also, when the top SouperFest sponsor, Merrimack County Savings Bank learned that CCEH had open event volunteer spots, they sent out an internal memo. Within an hour, almost half of the volunteer spots were filled by MCSB staff, including Linda Lorden, bank president and senior lending officer, James Gallagher.
“I am so looking forward to this year’s SouperFest,” said Ellen Groh, executive director of CCEH. “The soup selection offered by Concord’s finest restaurants is awesome, and it will be wonderful to see friends and CCEH supporters again. And I must say, hearing the State Street Jazz Band makes for a great festive mood.”
Of CCEH’s $50,000 SouperFest fundraising goal, $40,000 has already been raised through the generosity of the business community. In addition to our Palladium sponsor, MCSB, we would also like to thank our Gold sponsors/Pillars of support McFarland Johnson, McLane Middleton, and Northeast Delta Dental along with more than 60 other Concord-area organizations.