The Kenai Peninsula Food Bank’s annual Soup Supper & Auction grossed more funds in August than any other event in the last 18 years, according to Linda Swarner, executive director of the Kenai Peninsula Food Bank. Over 400 attendees received pottery or wooden bowls/plates plus eating or tasting 15 delicious soups prepared by local restaurants and chefs. The event held at the Kenai Central High School featured a live auction, silent auction and raffles for cash, Alaska Railroad tickets and Alaska Airline tickets. Now in its eighteenth year, the idea created as a fundraiser for the Food Bank to underscore the need, didn’t offer a prime rib or steak dinner to those wanting to contribute but a soup supper with funds to help those hungry, “The potters then made hand crafted bowls for the participants. The event was originally held at the Food Bank as an empty bowl event but soon grew so popular we had to move to Kenai Central High School,” said Swarner. “This year we had the choice of 12 to 14 different the soups made from several local restaurants. The bowls were made by local potters at the Kenai Art Guild and we even had some wooden bowls this year and are each one of a kind,” she said.

The Food Bank serves the entire Kenai Peninsula and distributes foods through 73 different agencies, “We’re a clearing house and warehouse of reclaimed foods throughout the Peninsula plus serving hot meals five days a week. Thank you to all who attended, volunteered, donated and supported the event in some way. We are successful due to a very giving and loving community!

We want to thank our major sponsors especially Central Peninsula Hospital, BP, ConocoPhillips, Tesoro, All American Oilfield, Alaska Airlines, Apache, Alaska Railroad, Arbys, First National Bank Alaska, Heat & Frost Insulation, Kenai Spine, Providence Imaging Center, Princess Cruises, Redoubt Realty, Soldotna Professional Pharmacy, Thrivent Financial, TOTE, Udelhoven Companies, Wells Fargo, and XTO Energy.”