Introducing "Souper Tuesday"

Written by: Doug Gibson on Feb 9, 2008 12:40 AM EST

DFA-Asheville is teaming up with Drinking LIberally and the WNC Obama group to sponsor "Souper Tuesday," a food drive for MANNA FoodBank. Our goal is, of course, to raise awareness of hunger in western North Carolina and donate to a good cause, but we're also aiming for something else.

North Carolina has one of the last primaries in the nation. This means that progressives and Democrats (and progressive Democrats) in North Carolina have no way of showing their enthusiasm for the two candidates still in the running for the Democratic nomination. This is unfortunate particularly because in states that have held primaries so far, all the signs - turnout totals, exit polling, etc. - point to an enthusiasm on the Democratic side that's off the charts, and which stands in marked contrast to the dismay spreading among Republicans and conservatives.

So we're sponsoring Souper Tuesday as a way to allow Democratic-leaning folks in western North Carolina to show their enthusiasm and excitement along with the rest of the country. From Tuesday, February 12 through Tuesday, March 11, DFA-Asheville will be collecting food at various gatherings - including the WNC Obama Pizza, Beer, Obama meetings, Drinking Liberally, the Buncombe Young Democrats meetup, and the Democratic Party's own vounteer luncheon - as well as our monthly meetings in February and March.

Here's some info provided by MANNA FoodBank about food drives and hunger in WNC.

Why have a food drive?
Because hunger hurts and you can help. We know that 115,000 people in Western North Carolina accessed emergency food assistance from a MANNA partner agency in a year; that’s one in six people. Hunger hurts the child from a low-income family – a family often headed by a single parent struggling to make ends meet. It affects the elderly woman living on tea and toast at the end of the month because she had to choose between buying medication and food. It impacts the working poor, the unemployed, victims of family violence and natural disasters, and the homeless.

What role does MANNA FoodBank fill?
At MANNA, we collect surplus food from the food industry and community sources, then distribute that food to partner agencies. Food comes from companies and individuals, and from WNC and nationwide. Government also plays a vital role through the NC State Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the US Department of Agriculture’s The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP).

Where does the food go?
MANNA FoodBank serves as the link between the food industry and over 300 partner agencies in 16 counties of Western North Carolina. Our partner agencies include food pantries, soup kitchens, shelters, and after-school programs, among others.

What food is most needed?
Canned and non-perishable items are desirable because of their long shelf life, easy transport, and storage needs. (While MANNA’s coolers and freezers enable us to provide perishables too, we discourage them for food drives.) High protein items are preferred, such as canned fish or meat and peanut butter. Other most needed items are canned meals or soup and canned vegetables or fruit.

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Location: Asheville, NC 28801