Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 3/31/08 Section: News

Media Credit: Jeffrey LaMonde/Senior Photographer Claud Taylor, Mount Pleasant resident and Elvis impersonator for three years, left, samples some of the many foods offered, with his wife Brenda, during the Chef Extravaganza fundraiser event for the Isabella County Soup Kitchen on Friday afternoon. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: Senior Photographer/Jeffery LaMonde Olivia GeistHardt, 5 year-old Mount Pleasant resident, eyes a bowl of soup being poured while waiting in line with her mother, Cheryl, during the Chef Extravaganza fundraiser event for the Isabella County Soup Kitchen on Friday afternoon. More than 43 restaurants donated food to the event, allowing the soup kitchen to raise money for future purposes. [Click to enlarge]

Mount Pleasant residents didn't have to shell out any cash to eat from some of their favorite restaurants Friday night.

More than 43 restaurants and business contributed food to the annual Chef Extravaganza "Smorgasboard" event at the Isabella County Soup Kitchen.

"We've had a wonderful turnout," said soup kitchen director Genny Sobaski, who began volunteering at the kitchen in 1992. "It's always our biggest fundraiser of the year."

The event, which is open to all residents, has been a tradition of the soup kitchen for about 15 years.

Mark Lehman, Isabella County Soup Kitchen treasurer who also is a CMU communication disorders professor, said the total money raised from contributors came close to $2,000. Donations of checks, cash and even stamps were accepted at the front door.

CMU's Kappa Delta Pi, as well as other groups such as Michigan Works, Experience Works and community service members all helped make the event possible.

"There are a variety of volunteers that helped to pick up the food and also to prepare it," Sobaski said.

Several businesses such as Buffalo Wild Wings, Domino's, China Garden and Fazoli's donated food.

"What's great is that you can just take a little bit of everything," said Ruth Helwig, a librarian in Charles V. Park Library who also volunteer for the soup kitchen.

Helwig and her husband said they went to the Chef Extravaganza in previous years and decided it was worth coming back for.

CMU alumnus Jacob Belfry, 27, had to wait in line to be served at the event.

Though the food was free, Belfry donated before eating.

The soup kitchen hosts other annual fundraising events such as the chili cook-off, the soup and bread event and the bake sale.



news@cm-life.com

Page 1 of 1

Article Tools