The soup’s on for a great cause

I invite you to join us at my ninth annual Soup’s On fundraiser Thursday, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at St. James Church, 1275 B St. in Davis. This year we are donating 100 percent of all contributions to the Food Bank of Yolo County to support its Kids Farmers Market program. You can register online and find out more about the event and the beneficiary at our web page: http://donsaylorsoupson.org/blog.

In 2003, a friend of mine had the flu. As friends do, I made a pot of home-made soup for her and her family. From that small act of kindness in 2003, we have come together as friends to support a variety of causes. Since that first event, we have been able to build an even more enjoyable community experience. This year, we will enjoy music by Frankie and the Fabletones, David Hafter and the Davis High School Orchestra String Quartet. Very well supervised child care will be available on site and, of course, there will be a silent auction, local wines and lots of folks to meet.

The Kids Farmers Market program is a weekly after-school program that brings a market full of fresh fruits and veggies to the schoolyards of our county’s hungriest children. Piloted in the spring of 2012, the Kids Farmers Market incorporates nutrition education and a physical activity into a creative food distribution experience.

Kids have the opportunity to exercise, learn about and sample the vegetable or fruit of the week, and experience a market by using “funny money” to “purchase” up to 5 pounds of fresh produce to take home. In addition, the students receive recipes and other information regarding wellness so they can begin to make their own healthy choices.

Currently, the Food Bank is able to offer this program at three schools. Our goal for this fundraiser is to support the program for a full year at a fourth elementary school.

I look forward to seeing you Thursday at Soups On! If you cannot attend but would like to make a donation, please send check to Food Bank of Yolo County Memo: Soups on Event, 1244 Fortna Ave., Woodland, CA 95776.

Don Saylor
Yolo County supervisor, Davis