As the aroma of hot soup filled the air, families joined together Wednesday night to receive a free meal at First Lutheran Church of DeKalb, 324 N. Third St.

The Feed’em Soup Community Project held two previous meals for family and friends prior to hosting their first public meal of the season. It hopes to provide free meals to anyone in need on the second and fourth Wednesdays of every month.

The organization consists of all volunteers and is 100 percent non-state funded.

“The food is donated from the Suter Company in Sycamore and the Hosanna! Church in St. Charles,” said Feed’em Soup President David Lumpkin.

Lumpkin said he decided to start this project about two years ago after seeing a man in the check-out line of the Sycamore Wal-Mart, taking items off his grocery list because he didn’t have enough money.

“Just last week we were able to send two families home with food,” he said. “They were so gracious and to see the look on their faces is the reward.”

Most of the people who attended the first meal were actually members of the First Lutheran Church congregation, who are a part of the Wednesday night program. However, one doesn’t have to be part of any particular religious affiliation to receive food.

“I don’t think it’s faith-based…but the group has said from the beginning that they want to offer people more than just a bowl of soup,” said Pastor Marilyn Hanson of First Lutheran Church of DeKalb.

According to the Social Impact Research Center, in DeKalb County alone there are 12,506 people who live below the poverty line, while 6,377 people live in extreme poverty. An example of extreme poverty is a family of four surviving on less than $10,600 a year.

“I think the biggest challenge will be to get the word out, so people will come,” Hanson said. “I think the unemployment rate is high in this county, and this could serve a huge need for a lot of people.”

The group said it hopes to eventually find a more permanent location and have some form of transportation available to those who are in need of a meal, but live too far away.

“I was hoping to see more people from the community, but since they are starting a new program it takes time for people to know it’s here…but they are on the right track,” said church member Elsa Glover.

The Feed’em Soup Community Project will host a Soup-a-palooza on Nov. 20 from 12-10:30 p.m. at the Blumen Gardens, 403 Edward Street, Sycamore. The event will cost $15, have various food booths, and have six local live bands performing.

“Every penny is going directly towards Feed’em Soup,” Lumpkin said. “It is a complete fund raiser.”

The group is currently still in the process of looking for bands, and welcomes any interested parties to contact it, including NIU students. Lumpkin said he hopes for an audience of 500-600 people to attend the event throughout the day.

“This Feed’em Soup group is such a dynamic and forward thinking group of people and we’ve been very impressed with how organized they are,” said church staffer Jean Nelson.

Due to economic hard times, the Feed’em Soup group said there is a definite need in the community for their organization.

“It’s about feeding people, encouraging people, and offering support,” Lumpkin said.

Links

www.feedemsoup.org

http://www.heartlandalliance.org/povertyreport/latest-poverty-data/dekalb-county-pov-08.pdfhttp://www.heartlandalliance.org/povertyreport/latest-poverty-data/dekalb-county-pov-08.pdf