cookiesinheaven

Organic Soup Kitchen of Santa Barbara, California served 1,000 people at its first annual Christmas Breakfast & Dinner, held at the Veterans Memorial Building on
Friday from 8am to 5pm.“Support for the event was truly a communitywide effort,” said founder Anthony Carroccio on Friday.

“I am honored and grateful to all of our volunteers, and the support we received from several public officials who graciously volunteered their time.” These officials included Congresswoman Lois Capps, Second District Supervisor Janet Wolf, Councilmember Grant House, Councilmember and State Assembly Candidate Das Williams, Santa Barbara County Planning Commission Chair and State Assembly Candidate Susan Jordan, and Carpinteria councilmember Kathleen Reddington. Organic Soup Kitchen also received the support of 180 volunteers from Santa Barbara and surrounding areas, and local businesses such as Lazy Acres and Whole Foods Market.

From 8:00am until 5:00pm, a steady stream of guests arrived to enjoy a hot, healthy meal. Breakfast included hot coffee, tea, eggs, bagels & assorted breads, and fruit. Dinner included roast beef, turkey, potatoes, green beans, corn, and various wholesome pies and cakes for dessert. Santa Claus handed out candy canes and welcomed both children and adults to hear holiday wishes and take photos. Beside him sat a brightly lit Christmas tree with gifts for everyone, including clothing and hygiene packs. Live music during the dinner session invited everyone to sing along, dance, or even get up onstage and perform. Santa Barbara has thousands of homeless individuals, as the downturn in the economy has forced many, particularly women and children, out of their homes and onto the streets.

A growing number of working poor are also forced to live in cars, trucks, or campers.

Organic Soup Kitchen, a non-profit organization that operates on 100% donations, hopes to develop a mobile organic food delivery service in addition to the Veterans Memorial Building it currently occupies.

Soup Kitchen is the brainchild of Anthony Carroccio, a businessman with a dream of serving organic, healthy food to help prevent nutritional deficiencies in homeless individuals.

http://www.organicsoupkitchen.org/

Labels: Donating, Organic, Soup Kitchen