THE LA SOUPE SCOUPE

November 2020

MESSAGE FROM SUZY

“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.”  –– John F. Kennedy

The month of November has always been the month of “giving thanks.” In light of the last nine months of COVID and all that it has brought into the world as we knew it –– it may be hard this year to feel grateful. Many families this year will not be hosting family gatherings like in years past. Kids are back to virtual learning, many parents have found themselves unemployed for the first time in their careers, and businesses are closing every day.  Weddings are being delayed, funerals restricted to family only, and our seniors living in care facilities are not experiencing human touch for months –– all of this is the world we currently live in. Recently our staff had the unfortunate report of an employee testing positive for COVID. Under the protocol La Soupe agreed upon early in the pandemic, we followed our strict procedure, closing for two days, and requiring all employees to be tested.

For many, this would be the year of not mustering the energy to even say the word grateful, much less actually MEAN it! So I would like to ask all of you to think about how much we DO HAVE to be grateful for. The very fact that you are reading this on a computer is something to be grateful for. I am beyond grateful to have La Soupe and all my new friends as staff, volunteers, and those who we regularly give to. I am beyond grateful to the now 19 restaurants that we have as Community Kitchen (CK) Partners. For those who do not know about our COVID response program that we launched in March, CK has been a tremendous win, win, win for our entire community.

Our monthly rescue has increased dramatically as we disperse the extra rescue amongst the 18 participants. We have developed new avenues for distribution as well, bringing food to those who were not able to visit the traditional food pantries. So this month, yes, I am still very grateful.

I have an amazing and supportive family, co-worker rock stars, and the ability to use my God-given talents, as well as the talents of so many amazing cooks in our city –– to continue to Rescue. Transform. Share more than I ever thought possible!

Suzy

COMMUNITY KITCHEN PROGRAM

I would like to tell a quick story that shows the hidden benefits of our Community Kitchen Program. With La Soupe's first positive COVID-19 case in house, we were required to shut down operations for two days and put our COVID emergency plan into action. Our amazing logistics team re-routed or canceled roughly 50 food runs over these two days. The runs that did not need to be canceled were our Bucket Brigades (BB) and Community Kitchens (CK) –– these are the programs that call on local restaurants and caterers to continue production safely OUTSIDE of our facility. With a skeleton crew in the facility taking in BB soupes, and sending out CK proteins on their normal schedule, these programs kept trucking.

On our first down day, one of our rescue partners showed up with a surprise surplus of over 1,700 lbs of potatoes, carrots, onions, and apples –– not knowing La Soupe was shut down. If you have spent any time in our facility, you may have admired that our chefs and dock team run a tight ship; food must move quickly and efficiently to keep everything utilized at its peak quality without food building up and rotting. This food had to be moved fast. With our facility shut down, this produce was distributed to a few Community Kitchens within hours and made into beautiful meals over the weekend, all distributed to the community in a form that most assuredly was enjoyed. No workplace is exempt from the impacts of COVID, but with a little help from our friends, we at La Soupe can continue our mission through these setbacks, minimizing waste and spreading the love through healthy meals. 

Emmy

HELP US MEET THE WINTER APPEAL CHALLENGE

“The work of serving others can often be messy. Life is messy. But that’s why we have aprons.” Anonymous

If you remember seeing your mother or grandmother wearing an apron, you might recall that this piece of fabric had many uses --- keeping the clothes underneath clean, substituting as a potholder, wiping away tears, cleaning dirty hands and faces, carrying eggs, apples or vegetables. But, did you know that the apron has long been a symbol of generosity and hospitality?

We are pleased to announce that we have a challenge grant to help us reach our $140,000 Winter Appeal goal. Our friends, Carolyn & Kevin Martin and the Helen Chatfield Trust will match $40,000 IF WE RAISE $100,000 by the end of the year.

Click HERE to support the campaign

SUITING UP TO GIVE BACK TO LA SOUPE

Trevor Furbay Tailors (TFT) in Mariemont is giving back! Amy, Trevor's fiancé, worked for Suzy DeYoung several years ago and truly believes in the mission of La Soupe (and so does Trevor). So, for every gift a customer makes to La Soupe while visiting TFT, they will match a portion of that gift, and donate it all to La Soupe. 

The impact Suzy DeYoung had on Amy's life after her divorce was comforting as it provided her with such a safe and positive environment. Amy said, "she made me feel like I was doing something good for the world."

So, wanting to show their appreciation to Suzy and her work, Trevor and Amy chose La Soupe as their single Give Back nonprofit recipient for 2020-2021.They are hoping to be able to garner some local corporate support to "match" their donation, but for now, Trevor Furbay will be giving back to La Soupe so that others will be fed. 

 La Soupe is grateful for the generosity and support of Amy and Trevor Furbay. Thank you

WHAT’S SIMMERING?

NEWS FROM THE EDUCATION TEAM

The La Soupe Education Team’s mission to provide culinary education in the Cincinnati area is continuously supported by our growing La Soupe community. A shout-out to the Jr. League of Cincinnati to thank them for the equipment kits they put together for us. These kits included measuring cups, different sized pans, knives, spoons, along with various kitchen tools. Volunteers and donors like the Jr. League have shared their time and resources to expand culinary education efforts and as a result, we are able to educate more people about the numerous benefits that come with learning to cook. And during these classes, we watch that flame of generosity spread.

Once all the prep work and cooking is complete, we get to do one of the most simple and yet profound human things; we get to share space while we eat and converse. The conversations vary in topics, but there is a theme of generosity that pops up in so many of our classes. The students, fresh with new culinary confidence, explain to us who they will share their meals with –– and they express their excitement to cook and share food with their family and friends. All of our collective work doesn’t stop once the meal is finished. Empowered students join in our quest, the quest that belongs to all humans, of breaking bread and sharing it with those at your table.

So as we enter this season of gratitude, we just want to say thank you to everyone in our community who is supporting our current efforts to keep culinary education going via the virtual teaching world. The time and contributions are spreading generosity in our community. When I think about the simple yet powerful act of eating with fellow people, it always reminds me of my favorite quote by artist and illustrator Brian Andreas, “There are things you do because they feel right and they may make no sense and they may make no money and it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other and to eat each other's cooking and say it was good.”

We hope you're able to savor every bite of this in this season of thankfulness.

FROM OUR EXECUTIVE CHEF…. MIRANDA

Cheeseburger Soupe

It’s getting colder outside and this hearty soup will warm you up –– it is available in our retail freezer. This is a soup that the team sometimes is skeptical about, but after they try it, they want a big bowl for lunch! You can add bacon, bagel chips, shredded lettuce, or more cheese –– there’s no such thing as too much cheese!

Ingredients:

• 2 pounds ground beef 

• 1 tablespoon oil

• 2 cups diced onion 

• 4 garlic cloves, grated/minced 

• 1 teaspoon kosher salt 

• 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 

• 1/3 cup tomato paste

• 1 tablespoon parsley flakes 

• 1/2 cup dill pickle juice 

• 2 tablespoons yellow mustard 

• 24 ounces beef broth 

• 2 cups tomato sauce plain

• 14.5 ounces diced tomatoes, drained 

• 8 ounces shredded cheddar cheese or blue cheese –– or both would be great!

• 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce 

• 1/3 cup crushed bagel chips for topping

Instructions:

1. In a large stockpot over medium heat, add ground beef. Break apart beef and cook until browned. Strain beef fat out through colander into a bowl; cover beef and set aside.

2. Add oil to pan. Once hot, add the diced onion; cook stirring occasionally for 3-4 minutes. Add garlic, salt and pepper; continue to cook stirring constantly for 1 minute. 

3. Stir in parsley, pickle juice, mustard, beef broth, diced tomatoes and browned hamburger; stir to combine well. Bring to a simmer. Cover and let simmer for 10 minutes.

4. Lower heat, add tomato sauce, Worcestershire sauce and shredded cheese; stir until melted. Continue cooking on low heat for another 10 minutes. Finish with bagel chips, Salt and pepper to taste. Keep warm until ready to serve.

SPOTLIGHT ON A SHARE PARTNER

Our Daily Bread (ODB) is Cincinnati's largest soup kitchen and social center. Their mission is "To provide stability and hope to guests in need by offering meals, hospitality and services in a safe, respectful environment, located in Over the Rhine." La Soupe values its community here in Cincinnati, and we work together with the other social service organizations to reach as many individuals as possible. Our Daily Bread will always let us know when they are in need of a specific item, such as sandwich bread, salad items, or coffee –– and La Soupe looks out for these items so that we can deliver to ODB in bulk. Our Daily Bread helps so many people, and La Soupe is proud to call them one of our partners. Visit their website at https://ourdailybread.us/ to find out more about volunteering and donating to help our neighbors here in Cincinnati.

VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHT

Theresa Gregg

I first got involved with La Soupe after seeing an article in the Cincinnati Enquirer about Suzy. When I read the article, I just knew I had to get involved somehow because it was so much about what I believed in: feeding people and not wasting food. I began with driving a few rescue routes in the summer of 2016. At the end of that summer, La Soupe had a Volunteer Appreciation event where they used their new giant Paella pan, and I met Carolyn Collette who told me about the Give A Crock program –– and so I began volunteering to help teach at the Academy of World Languages (AWL). Being a Pediatric nurse who loved to cook and work with kids, it was a perfect fit! Carolyn put together a core group of fantastic women, who up until COVID hit, made teaching/volunteering a joy! This group of women, with such a variety of backgrounds and skills, taught me so much about putting on a quality program. I looked forward to every week and working with these women and the students. I felt we were really making an impact on the students, and hope someday soon we can go back to teaching the after-school program. 

 Since the Give a Crock program has been put on hold, I have enjoyed volunteering in-house at La Soupe doing whatever is needed on that day. There is always such a variety of things to do and also a variety of people to work with during the shift. I have really enjoyed getting to know all the staff and volunteers. The entire staff is so appreciative of and genuinely interested in us as volunteers and that makes me always look forward to going there. I was so happy when the Firehouse restaurant allowed La Soupe to use their space during COVID since it was just over two miles from my house and some days I could ride my bike there. Being able to volunteer at La Soupe during COVID has given me a feeling of hope during this crazy time.

 The things I like to do when I’m not at La Soupe are reading, knitting, cooking, running, and traveling. (Although not doing much of that these days)