An idea that begins with “Hey, what if we…” seldom lives long beyond the end of the sentence.
But some people carry those ideas through to fruition. Tricia Keels became one such person when she founded Columbus Soup and Bread, now relaunched in its third season as Souper Heroes.
Designed to save the world one Crock-Pot of soup at a time, Souper Heroes came to life at Woodlands Tavern in October 2012.
It’s almost as if Soup and Bread was seeking Keels. The concept for the co-created meal found its way to her during an interview on No Chefs Allowed, a podcast and blog that promotes a no-frills foodie lifestyle; Keels runs it with her Chicago-based sister, Megan O’Connor. Martha Bayne, author of Soup & Bread Cookbook, challenged Keels on-air to adopt her “open source idea” in Columbus.
Keels tucked Bayne’s dare away, preoccupied with her work as a business owner and marketing professional, as well as wife and mother.
But what’s meant to be is meant to be, and next thing she knew, Keels found herself coming back to the community gathering for good in the simplest moments.
“I was putting my kids to bed and (son) Adam was climbing up the ladder, and he was just a piece of spaghetti – and he was like, ‘I’m starving, I’m so hungry.’ I knew he wanted a chocolate chip granola bar,” Keels says. “All of a sudden, I had this revelation that there are moms out there literally putting their kids to bed hungry, but they have nothing in their cupboard. That split second, I started to cry.”
The next morning, she moved from tears to action.
That first Soup and Bread went off without a hitch thanks to the space and supplies Jimmy Woodland of Woodlands Productions donated, paired with the support and slow cooker skills of Keels’ friends and family. It wasn’t as successful as Keels would have liked it to be, but even if it had only amounted to one meal for one hungry child, it would have been worth the effort, she says.
She hasn't looked back, and each gathering has gotten bigger and better.
Once a month during soup season – which is October through May because “nobody really wants hot soup in June,” reasons Keels – community members will meet at a designated location, each with a Crock-Pot full of soup. Bread is provided as well, and event-goers eat free.
“Sometimes, I don’t know how to describe the event,” says Keels. “I almost just want to be able to say, ‘Just come! If you like soup, just come.’”
As a true testament to its mothership, No Chefs Allowed, Columbus Soup and Bread’s rebranding was born out of Keels’ exposure to food lovers nationwide, allowing her firsthand insight into unique opportunities in niche markets. Adding to her Soup and Bread score, Keels discovered “food swaps” – organized exchanges of homemade, home-grown or foraged foods – in Chicago. Wanting to add food swaps to her Columbus endeavors, Keels felt it was time to expand the soup event into a nonprofit that hosts Soup and Bread, Food Swaps, Citywide Soups and more.
“Although Soup and Bread is probably our biggest thing, the name ‘Souper Heroes,’ which came from a T-shirt our partner Outfit Good made, and the mission opens us up to do any type of fun foodie event,” says Keels.
In support of that Souper Heroes mission – to have fun with food and community while providing for those who don’t have enough of either – diners are encouraged to put cash contributions in the Donation Slow Cooker, which goes to the nonprofit of the night. That nonprofit is either Mid-Ohio Foodbank, Children’s Hunger Alliance or Neighborhood Services Inc.
While the donation pot rotates its beneficiary between the three local nonprofit organizations each month, Mid-Ohio Foodbank was Soup and Bread’s initial recipient.
“The innovative partnership between Souper Heroes and Mid-Ohio Foodbank offers a way that all can come together around a meal to ensure that our hungry neighbors are able to put food on the table,” says Foodbank Communications and Digital Media Manager Yolanda Owens.
At the outset, Keels knew Soup and Bread would benefit the hunger relief network, as per Bayne’s model in Chicago, but she wasn’t aware of how established that network in Columbus is. She had heard of the Foodbank, but hadn’t visited its Grove City headquarters until her talks with Woodland led to her bringing her family to the facility for a tour. She quickly forged a partnership with the Foodbank, as its reputation for substantial purchasing power – as in, the nonprofit can turn $1 into $10 – reassured her it was a good ally.
“We can make it really accessible for people to raise money, dollars that might not make it to these (hunger relief) organizations any other way,” she says.
The other two recipients were suggested by event enthusiasts who wanted to spread the giving.
“Soup and Bread is easy to participate in, (and) no one is alienated – you don’t have to buy a ticket to go,” Keels says. “It really is an accessible, everyday way to be reminded that you should be grateful and pay it forward.”
Through two seasons and into the third, the organization has seen 19 events and six different venues, including Seventh Son Brewing Co., Zauber Brewing and Hey Hey Bar and Grill. It’s built even more partnerships with such entities as ManBQue, Matija Breads, Weiland’s Market and local food trucks. It has welcomed more than 100 attendees and raised $8,000 in donations.
“I started this thing with elbow grease and social media. Not one dollar. Not one single dollar,” Keels says with a laugh.
Contribute your elbow grease with Keels and friends by ladling up a homemade super soup creation or your dollars by slurping some soup each month. Follow “Souper Heroes” on Facebook or visit www.souperheroes.org to be sure you’re at the next event.
“Everybody’s welcome, no matter what your culinary skill,” Keels says. “Everyone’s welcome to share soup even if you are bringing ramen noodles.”
Tessa Dufresne is a contributing writer. Feedback welcome at gbishop@cityscenemediagroup.com.
