A Message From Our Founder | October 2024

Written by La Soupe’s Founder, Suzy DeYoung

Ahhhhh, the change of seasons! I have always maintained autumn is the most beautiful, vibrant season of the year, and this past week of colors proves me right again. Every road I have driven on has more color than the last and more contrast than in previous years. With the extreme drought conditions, I assumed this would not be a colorful fall, but am grateful my predictions proved incorrect. 

 
There is something about the crisp morning air and the sun's slow warming that gives me a huge serotonin boost. As the time changes this weekend, I’m reminded that the winter months will soon be upon us. I have been taking long early morning walks in the woods, moving barefoot in the grass, and soaking up the glorious sunshine while it lasts.  

 
As I drove through a few areas of town this week, I thought, “Where are the fall colors that light up my neighborhood?” followed quickly by, “Is this a visual sign of the disparities in our world? Is this just one more privilege that I have always had and look forward to that other people do not have?” 

 
La Soupe makes regular deliveries to these neighborhoods every week. The people living here are kind and appreciative of everything we are able to share with them. I certainly hope there are parks or green spaces in these areas that I do not know about because the neighborhood itself has ZERO fall color. This season puts a huge smile on my face, and I still say, “WOWZA!” to the colors; yet it is one more thing I can add to my growing list of disparities.  

 
Walnut Hills, the neighborhood we chose to call home for La Soupe, has a rich history which has gone through a lot of change in the past decade. Although neighborhood revitalization is always complex, we strive to be part of supporting the old and the new. Staples like The Greenwich, staff favorite Brew House, and a beautifully expanded and restored public library remain, but growth is happening. The community welcomed its first grocery store, ETC Produce & Provisions, since Kroger closed in 2016. We now have a few new restaurants with different cuisines and price points. DANCEFIX and ArtWorks have also moved into the neighborhood. I hope the residents who have lived here their entire lives can enjoy these changes and find a new sense of pride. 

 
There have been some internal changes at La Soupe, with some new faces added to our stellar staff. If you meet them while volunteering or buying soupe, say hello and welcome them to the team. 

Next week, there will be a change in leadership for our country, with many people happy with the result and others well…

The one thing that does NOT change is La Soupe's dedication and commitment to reducing food waste which was so beautifully evident at this year's record-setting fundraiser. Thank you to all of our sponsors and the individuals who came to enjoy an evening of top-notch food and inspiring conversations with some of the finest and most generous chefs in our city.  

La Soupe has been creating change in our community for over ten years. It is always an honor when someone sees me and comments that they enjoyed making a rescue run for us or tells me they opened and consumed something past the Best Buy date – and lived to tell about it! 

How we look at, acknowledge, and accept the food waste our country produces is changing. As La Soupe spreads its collective knowledge throughout the country with our Inspire program, we will be teaching others how to be change-makers in their cities regarding food waste and hunger. Never forget that small changes in individual behaviors can yield big results.