NORFOLK, Va. — More than 100 women from United Way rolled up their sleeves and got to work, making meals for local shelters and soup kitchen, as part of the 9th annual "Stone Soup" event.
This is the 9th year United Way of South Hampton Roads and Women United is hosting it.
“It’s awesome to be able to have families here and all these people coming together to make 400 casseroles and 600 bagged lunches," volunteer Erin Ruane said. "It’s just a really great event.”
Volunteers donated their own ingredients and they have just one hour to make enough food to feed two thousand people at 13 shelters and food pantries.
Charity Anderson of Women United says it will be enough food to feed more than 2,000 people.
“There’s nothing more energizing than doing something for somebody else and it’s very evident here,” Anderson said.
“I’m super passionate about it. I just love it so much. The energy is amazing and everyone’s having such a great time.”
United Way President and CEO Michelle Anderson said this is all part of United Way’s mission to help, year-round.
So many people doing charitable activities over November and December and then January comes and it’s cold outside, people need a warm meal and a place to go,” she said.
“We bring resources and people together to solve complex problems that can’t be solved by one agency or one person.”
More than 160 women and their families made sandwiches and casseroles that will go to 13 food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens.
Local companies like Geico, Dollar Tree, Sentara, and AAA showed up, so employees could spend a day, giving back.
AAA Tidewater President & CEO Carol Ormond was making lasagna with her employees.
“Everyone’s got a task so somebody’s putting sauce on, somebody’s putting cheese on, and somebody’s pushing it over to the other table, the noodles," she said. "It’s a mess but it’s great. It’ll feed a lot of people.”
According to a press release by United Way, the event gets its name from a folk story called "Stone Soup" where hungry strangers contribute ingredients to create a delicious meal for everyone to enjoy.
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