Get a Taste of the Pot O’ Gold Soup Fundraiser
Get a Taste of the Pot O’ Gold Soup Fundraiser
Public Invite to Purchase Special Soups from Local Restaurants to Help Support CCA Nutritional Program
The weather hasn’t been the most cooperative creature this year. Is it still winter or is it early spring? I don’t even know, I just know that it rotates between hot and cold faster than my mood can handle. So what can we do to make ourselves feel better? Well, my mom always says that nothing warms you up faster than a tasty bowl of soup, so let’s “soup it up” and help out the community at the same time!
How can we do that? Connecting Communities in Action (CCA) is setting up its 4th Annual Pot O’ Gold Soup Fundraiser for March 15th from 11:00am-1:00pm at the CCA Main Office, first floor, in Salamanca, NY. The event is primarily to support the organization’s mission to help community members in need. ellicottvilleNOW had the chance to speak with Bridget Sanford, CCA’s Director of Planning and Resource Development about this year’s fundraiser, and how the public can get involved.
eNOW: The Pot O’ Gold Fundraiser is back. Is anything new happening this year?
SANFORD: This year CCA is excited to announce that there will be a shoulder/chair massage station. (Compliments of Michele Harvey at Passport Massage and Holistics). This year, CCA is happy to announce a one-time "golden" raffle basket category: A Buffalo Bills James Cook Autographed Cleat from the 22-23 NFL Season, with certificate of authenticity!
eNOW: Can you explain how the Pot O’ Gold fundraiser works?
SANFORD: This year is CCA’s fourth annual Pot O’ Gold fundraiser. Each year, CCA partners with local restaurants that donate soup for the event. The delicious variety of soups are then sold to raise money for CCA’s Resilient and Healthy Families Nutrition Program. This year’s event will take place at CCA’s main office location in Salamanca, NY at 25 Jefferson Street on March 15, 2024, from 11:00am-1:00pm.
CCA offers a wide variety of raffle baskets at this event, with 2024 items ranging from: an autographed Buffalo Bills cleat ($10 per ticket), a gift certificate to West Rose, Passport Massage, a Leprechaun basket and more: Tickets are 10 for $5 or 1 for $1 with all proceeds going to CCA’s Nutrition Program.
This event is a lot of fun for the Community and a great day to dress in St. Patrick’s Day colors and themes.
Soup prices are:
$5 for a 12 ounce
$10 for a 24 ounce
$12 for three 12 ounce soups
$25 for three 24 ounce soups
Soup pre-order forms will be available very soon, so stay tuned to CCA’s Facebook Page.
eNOW: What local establishments are providing soups and what kinds are they offering?
SANFORD: West Rose is serving up a Sweet Potato & Chili Bisque, Duper’s plans to bring a Loaded Baked Potato offering, Chef Fellows is creating a unique Creamy Curry Butternut Squash soup, EBC will be providing their homey Tomato Bisque, Hughes Hotel is offering a tasty chili, Chef Haley is stirring in an interesting sounding Creamy Riesling Arugula Chicken Soup, Lucia’s on the Lake out of Hamburg, NY has a decadent Lobster Bisque, The Eatery brings nostalgia with their Vegetable Beef, Villaggio adds in some heat with their Chicken Sausage Gumbo, Myers is spooning up a hearty Steak and Mushroom, and last but definitely not least, Harvest Moon is providing a traditional Native offering of Roast Corn Soup.
eNOW: Who/what are the funds going to support this year and what do they/it represent?
SANFORD: When families are experiencing nutrition-related crises, CCA is able to provide emergency amelioration of that crisis, then to proceed along a continuum of care that allows for advocacy, assistance in obtaining food resources, education and training, even job readiness and employment experiences.
CCA Nutrition Services provide support to the Community by offering our food pantry 5 days a week, as well as CCA's Soup Kitchen by way of to-go hot meals 4 days a week. Food items that are donated by local businesses, restaurants and grocery stores are utilized daily. CCA staff receive donations by way of pickup multiple days of the week, thus supplying our clients with items ranging from frozen meats to bread and milk. Annually, CCA provides 17,000 mobile food boxes to households as well as 15,000 hot meals.
All proceeds from this Fundraiser go to support CCA’s Nutrition Department equipment maintenance, purchasing of essential food items and outreach.
eNOW: Does Community Action have other events coming up or in the works?
SANFORD: CCA will be hosting more events starting in April 2024 (Community Cleanup Day), a Steps Out of Poverty Walk in May 2024, and our Back to School Bash in August 2024.
eNOW: Anything else you would like to add or let the community know?
SANFORD: We hope that a lot of folks can make it out to our event this year! Come out and get some delicious soup and support a fantastic community cause at the same time!
Thank you, Bridget, for taking the time to speak with us and for sharing such great details on the event. Don’t forget to keep track of the CCA’s Facebook page “CCA - Connecting Communities in Action” for up-to-date info and other upcoming events.
