Jan 14, 20232 min read

Yes, Soup For You!

Life Matters Newsletter - Spring / Summer 2021

Soup on Sunday is always the last Sunday in January.

For over two decades, Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region's (HPCCR’s) annual “Soup on Sunday” fundraiser has been a much-anticipated community gathering event as winter temperatures create a chill in the air. In a “typical year,” 800 – 1000 attendees fill the Philip L. Van Every Culinary Arts Building at Central Piedmont Community College, under a banner of friendship and community, to sample amazing soups prepared with winter soup-lovers in mind. As COVID-19 numbers climbed following the holidays, the question became: how do you safely serve delicious soups from local chefs during a pandemic? Curbside delivery service with a smile, of course.

Taking a page from Chick-fil-A’s playbook, HPCCR volunteers and staff delivered hundreds of quarts of pre-ordered soup and safely engaged with donors and supporters, all through the passenger side window of a car. What proved remarkable about this year’s event was that despite all the obstacles and pressing hardships faced by Charlotte’s culinary community, 20 restaurants (including culinary schools and caterers) chose to participate this year, collectively donating 140 gallons of soups, stews, and bisques. Special commemorative soup bowls were available again this year for purchase, to enjoy soup all year long.

Proceeds from “Soup on Sunday” are used to fund four critical aspects of HPCCR’s mission. Through this event and other gifts from the community, HPCCR ensures access to compassionate and high-quality care for all (regardless of ability to pay), leverages innovation to drive support of patients, provides critical resources to families and caregivers along their journey, and supports area healthcare initiatives by measurably lowering rehospitalizations.