History

Soup for Seniors began in October of 2006 as a Make a Difference Day Project for LOA’s Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Programs.  That first year we had very modest goals of serving those within the program as well as the Meals on Wheels recipients.  The community fully embraced the project.  So much soup and crackers was donated that the LOA was able to service all of its clients, other needy seniors in the community as well as others in neighboring communities.  In 2011, with new restrictions of the founding programs, the LOA took the project on as an agency-wide service and joined forces with AARP Virginia.  Collection and distribution was moved to early February in order to serve the senior population in the most vulnerable part of winter.

 

Who Benefits

This year’s goal is to collect 50,000 cans of soup to be delivered to 3,500 seniors right here in our community.  The project committee has set priority areas and at the top of that list are our homebound Meals on Wheels clients.  For many of the 550 recipients, the hot lunch meal they receive is the only meal they have all day.  The soup collected helps provide a hot meal on a cold day and also reminds them, in the bleakest part of winter, that the community has not forgotten them.  Other recipients include Congregate Meals participants who look to LOA for a hot lunch meal along with socialization; seniors who rely on LOA for transportation to the doctor or grocery store; and seniors who receive LOA’s intense case management services as well as homemaker and personal care services.  Our goal also includes providing the filled soup bags to the over 1,500 residents of low-income, independent senior housing as well as seniors who receive assistance from area Departments of Social Services, Goodwill Industries and other agencies.  Other eligible seniors can call our Intake Case Manager to be placed on a list to be notified when the bags can be picked up.  If you know someone in need, call 540-345-0451.

 

 

What is Needed

You can make a difference in your community by teaming up with your church, place of business or any organization of which you are a part and doing a collection in January.  Then, February 5-9 deliver that collection of soup, crackers and other non-perishable food items to a drop off location close to you.  The items most needed by our elderly neighbors include low sodium and nutritious soups, crackers, canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned meats such as tuna, peanut butter, Carnation Instant Breakfast and oatmeal.  No glass containers, please.  All the items collected will be put into reusable cloth bags provided by AARP and distributed into the homes of our elderly neighbors.  If you are a part of a civic group, church group or if you want to collect as a service project with your business, we will welcome any and all donations.  The more we collect, the more we can serve.

 

Volunteers

We are also in need of volunteers.  Volunteers play a vital role in this project and it cannot be done without their help.  Volunteers are needed in varying capacities.  They include:

  • People at collection sites to check dates and sort the soup as well as work in an assembly line format putting the donated soup and crackers into the bags, getting them ready for delivery.
  • People to deliver those bags to the Meals on Wheels sites, Diners Club sites, senior independent living centers, etc.  In some cases, we will need volunteers to deliver to the home.
  • Volunteers to pick up soup at the drop off locations and bring to our main collection site.
  • Volunteers available at the church to assist in unloading the item.

To volunteer visit: http://signup.com/go/JPSNpvJ

Drop off Sites

The drive will take place February 5-9, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 6 p.m.  The main drop off site is The Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, 4909 North Lake Dr, Roanoke (just off Peter’s Creek Road).  Other sites include:

  • All Freedom First locations:
    • Botetourt –  11 71 Roanoke Road, Dalveille
    • West End Center – 1210 Patterson Ave., SW, Roanoke
    • Tanglewood – 4203 Electric Road, Roanoke
    • Downtown – 102 Campbell Ave., Roanoke
    • Towers – 2221 Colonial Ave., SW, Roanoke
    • Crossroads – 5102 Williamson Road, Roanoke
    • Salem – 1235 Electric Road, Salem
    • Vinton – 203 Virginia Ave., Vinton
  • Vistar Eye Centers:
    • 426 West Main Street, Salem
    • 70 Summerfield Court, Roanoke
    • 3320 Franklin Road, Roanoke
  • Bent Mountain Center, 10148 Tinsley Lane, Bent Mountain
  • All Bank of Fincastle locations:
    • Fincastle – 17 South Roanoke St, Fincastle
    • Daleville – 1245 Roanoke Rd., Daleville
    • Glebe – 200 The Glebe Blvd., Daleville
    • Troutville – 5192 Lee Highway, Troutville
    • Cloverdale – 614 Lee Highway, Roanoke
  • Wells Fargo Bank, 246 W. Main Street, Covington
  • Clifton Forge Town Hall, 547 Main Street, Clifton Forge
  • Clifton Forge Fire Dept., 701 Church Street, Clifton Forge

Download the flyer here.

How to Reach Us

LOA Main Office – Aimee Lawson – 540-345-0451 or email info@loaa.org

Alleghany Highlands – Patrice Jefferson – 540-962-0465 or email loacov@ntelos.net

If you would like to make a monetary contribution, you may send it to Soup for Seniors, Local Office on Aging, Inc., PO Box 14205, Roanoke, VA  24038.  Funds collected will be used to meet the goal of serving 3,500 seniors or used to further end senior hunger by providing Meals on Wheels to homebound seniors.