Holy Family annual Soup du Jour fundraiser to support organizations caring for the poor, hungry

Take generous local restaurants, add delicious soups, and mix them with a good cause and what do you get? Holy Family Catholic Community’s annual Soup du Jour fundraiser, taking place on Saturday, March 22 at Holy Family Church, 271 Fourth Street Way.

Once a year, Soup du Jour sells a smorgasbord of soups from Fond du Lac area restaurants with the proceeds benefiting local organizations who care for those in need in our community. In 2024, the event raised $5,500 for the Holyland Food Pantry and Holy Family Warming Shelter.

The parish hopes to match or exceed that amount again this year, with the proceeds of the event going to the Holyland Food Pantry once again, and St. Vincent de Paul of Fond du Lac County.

St. Vincent de Paul of Fond du Lac County assists local individuals and families who are struggling to make ends meet by providing direct assistance with rent, food, utilities, and other necessities in a time of crisis. In 2024, they helped more than 6,200 individuals and provided $420,334 in assistance for rent, utilities, and basic needs. They answered as many as 90 calls for assistance per week. Their Getting Ahead program helps our neighbors build towards a better future through education on resources, identifying obstacles to financial stability, and developing goals for their future, according to the organization.

Providing emergency and supplemental food to those in need, the Holyland Food Pantry consistently serves 50 households—a total of 145 adults and children—throughout the Holyland area. At each distribution day, volunteers accompany clients through the food inventory to encourage them to make good food choices found in the offered selection of fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen meat, dairy products, eggs, grains, shelf-stable food, and hygiene items. In addition, the pantry offers referrals to community-based organizations for those who need additional assistance beyond food insecurity, according to the pantry.

“As we know, anyone can fall on hard times, and when you’re in such a situation, organizations like St. Vincent de Paul of Fond du Lac County and the Holyland Food Pantry can make all the difference. Their work can mean the difference between someone getting evicted from their apartment and having a place to sleep. It can ensure a family doesn’t have to go without food. We are blessed to have St. Vincent de Paul of Fond du Lac County and the Holyland Food Pantry in our community to help people bridge the gap when they’re most in need and Soup du Jour is a way that we can support their important work,” Holy Family Catholic Community Director of Human Concerns Erin Cobb said.

Local restaurants recognize the importance of these organizations as well. More than 20 restaurants have generously agreed to donate their favorite soups to the fundraiser. Participants include: A & W Restaurant, Ala Roma, Avenue 795, Blue Line Tavern, Bob’s on the Avenue, Boda’s Restaurant & Catering, Downtown Deli – Donated by Elaine Graf- First Weber, Eden Catering, Faros Restaurant and Cocktails, Fat Joe’s Burgers and Brew, Friar Tuck’s, Gilles Frozen Custard, Oasis Family Restaurant, Red Cabin at Green Acres, Rolling Meadows Restaurant, The Diner, The Hive/Juan’s Catering, The New Stretch Restaurant, The Sweet & Salty Pig, Theo’s 24 and Tucker’s Hamburgers.

Michael Schaefer and Fr. Matthew Kirk, as well as Holy Family Human Concerns Commission, Pastoral Council, Hispanic Ministry and Staff will also contribute soup.

“Soup du Jour would be nothing without the support of our local restaurants, and we are grateful to them for stepping up year after year to contribute to fundraiser, and by extension, to assist our local nonprofits. Thanks to their donations, every dollar

raised at Soup du Jour will benefit Holyland Food Pantry and St. Vincent de Paul,” Cobb said.

Soups will go on sale at 1:00 pm on Saturday, March 22 at Holy Family Church, 271 Fourth Street Way. Buyers are asked to come to the south side of church by the canopy entrance, enter the drive-up line, and wait in their cars for volunteers to take and deliver their orders. All soups will be available on a first come, first served basis for $6 a cup or three cups for $15. People are invited to follow Holy Family’s social media accounts, Holy Family Catholic Community FDL on Facebook and @hffdl on Instagram, as well as to visit their website, hffdl.org, for the announcement of the menu in the coming weeks.

Any restaurants interested in donating soup to the fundraiser are invited to contact Holy Family Catholic Community at (920) 921-0580.

“Soup is really the ultimate comfort food, and every cup of soup donated by restaurants and purchased by residents is helping St. Vincent de Paul and Holyland Food Pantry to continue to provide comfort and assistance to those they serve,” Cobb said.