Not bad for a first go

Thank you friends, we did it: the music and art were great, the company divine, and we served some tasty soup to over 200 people. Virtually everything edible was donated and/or made by islanders (we went a little out of pocket with fees and supplies) and we collected $187 for Helpline.

My favorite comment of the night, as reported by soup-ladler Barb: "this feels like the old Bainbridge Island."

Until we meet again...

Welcome to Soup Kitchen

On May 23, from 5 to 7pm, Soup Kitchen will open its doors in an empty storefront in downtown Bainbridge Island. (Look for us on Madrone Lane, across from the ice cream store.) The purpose of this one-evening venture is simple: to provide a free meal, entertainment, and camaraderie to locals who have been kicked around by the recession.

Soup kitchen is being held for its own sake (there is no underlying moral message, call to arms, or agenda) and it is meant to be inclusive. Islanders of all backgrounds and situations are invited. We hope to attract people of all conditions, since so many of us are joined, these days, in shared stress and uncertainty. The event reflects the organizers’ fondness for small scale, personal gestures and belief that food and music encourage friendly connections.

Watch this space for details, and ways you might pitch in. We're going to need some help spreading the word and getting the food on the table.

How are we pulling this off?

Soup kitchen is a benevolent event made possible by community donations. Our goal: food, music, and art all gifts from friends and neighbors. Can we pull it off? I don't know, but all the signs are good: we have soupmakers, cornbread bakers, musicians, rhubarb lemonade, donated space, and access to neighborhood refrigerators and commercial kitchens.

If you have the time to help, we could use a few hands to help us set up the room on the 23rd. If you have a few dollars to pitch in, that would be great, too. We'd like to cover our liscensing costs ($96) and some basic operating expenses ($70). We'll send anything we collect above this amount to our friends at Helpline House.

Music and Art

Soup kitchen aims to feed the spirit as well as the stomach--and to that end we're delighted to announce the music program.

Local singer and songwriter Lucy Dickinson will be kicking things off from 5 to 5:30. She'll perform her own set of kids' music to entertain the little ones.

The Island's Community Singers led by Dave Webb--our local philanthropic chorus-- will be singing for us from 5:30 to 6. They are preparing a program that includes music from the 1930's. Music will be distributed, and guests invited to sing along.

We turn things over to rhythm guitarist Michael Sciacca and his gypsy jazz "Renovation Project" from 6-6:30. We're counting on the band to ease our troubles with some rags, blues, and swing jazz classics.

Next up: guitarist Rick Barrenger from 6:30-7. He'll be singing 1930's standards, and helping us believe that there's a place away above the chimney tops where troubles melt like lemon drops. If that doesn't work, we can wander over to the Victor Alexander Wine Gallery down the lane and try some of Charlie's sangiovese.

The kitchen closes at 7, but that's no reason to end the party: Jeremy Rothbaum and Brent Grossman are going to show us what kind of rootsy, funky things can be done with an accordian and a snare drum from 7-7:30. Hooo have mercy.




New: we are happy to announce the last minute addition of our house artist, Mary Rowland. If you have teenage kids, the name may sound familiar; she teaches painting, drawing, and art history to our local high school kids. Mary's paintings of fanciful female figures will be looking down on us Saturday night--very appropriate, since so many of the volunteers who are making soup kitchen happen are colorful, vibrant, don't-mess-around sort of dames.

Jumping In

Thanks and more thanks to those who have encouraged this project, and are jumping in to lend a hand--Norm Johnson of MCR and his generous musicians, Charlie Merrill of Victor Alexander Winery, the over the top wonderful soup team of Lari and Josh at Real Foods, Barbara Reininger of My Kids' Cookies, Elisa Corcoran of Mon Elisa's, Karen Selvar of Bainbridge Island Farms, Jade Castillo of Soiree Catering, Carrie Goller, Jennie Hermann of Jenndigo Designs, Sallie Maron of Sound Food, Kat and Els at Sustainable Bainbridge, Heidi and Jeff at Blackbird, Rod Stevens, Audrey Van Voorhis, Peter Raffa, Carmine Rau, Carolyn Hart, Linna Callham and husband Jack, Marit at Cross Sound Church, Ruth Lentz, Wendy Johnson, Amy Buskirk, Susan Sivitz, David Cinamon and his team of Anna and Emma, Terry McCord, Carleen Gosney, Rebecca Rockefeller, Doreen and Norman Gibbs, Amy and Josh Michael--along with Jennifer Rhoads at Esther's, Tina Gilbert, Althea Paulson, Catherine Whitson, and Molly McCabe.