A warm meal and a creative idea came together last week to raise more than $2,200 for local causes during Weskota Manor Avera’s annual Soup for the Soul event.
Held Oct. 15 in the manor’s dining room, the event featured soup, sandwiches and dessert for a freewill offering, with proceeds benefiting the Springs Area Bus and special programs for Weskota Manor residents.
According to Administrator Nikki VonEye, the soup supper raised $1,842, with $1,000 directed to support the Springs Area Bus and $842 set aside for resident Christmas gifts, entertainment and special meals.
The decision to donate a portion to the Springs Area Bus was prompted by a June 24 announcement from the Rural Office of Community Services (ROCS), which stated that Sunday worship transportation and weekday meal deliveries in Wessington Springs would end without $1,500 in monthly local support. Of that amount, $525 is needed for Sunday transit and $975 for weekday meal delivery.
In addition to the meal, a group of local women organized a painted pumpkin fundraiser that brought in $388, all of which went to the bus program. The idea began when the women offered to paint pumpkins for nursing home residents. When they went to pick up pumpkins from a local pumpkin patch, the owner generously provided 92 pumpkins instead of the 32 requested.
Rather than let the extras go to waste, the women decided to paint and sell the remaining pumpkins at the Soup for the Soul event for a free will donation.
“The community really came together around both the supper and the pumpkins,” VonEye said. “It’s heartwarming to see so many people step up to support the residents and keep important services like the bus running.”