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While spring is upon us, the outdoor weather temperatures haven’t always caught up. 

Fortunately, a warm treat was recently in store for the citizens of Winchester. 

Clark County Community Services hosted an Empty Bowl soup lunch fundraiser – its first since COVID-19 – at First Church of God on Colby Road on Friday, April 11. 

“I think we’re just trying to get the ball rolling again,” said Kristy Weckwert, Director of Operations at Clark County Community Services. “I think we’ll continue to do it for many years to come, hopefully.” 

The event – which featured over 25 volunteers – was spearheaded largely by the efforts of Jenny Drury. 

“I had offered to try to help do some fundraising for the organization this year,” she said. “Kristy and I sat down, and we were brainstorming a little bit…We decided to come up with an empty bowls program. It hadn’t been done since 2019, and we’d just decided we’d give it a try to see what happens…I can not believe the amount of people that have stepped forward willing to help serve, set up, [and] to make soup. It’s been…really overwhelming.” 

Among the volunteers were members of Trail Life Troop KY-1691, a Christian scout troop focused on mentoring and discipling youth boys. 

Those who entered the First Church of God building were in for a nice treat. 

After paying a $10 admission fee, a line formed, and volunteers were more than willing to serve a delectable choice. 

“It’s a meatless vegetable soup. It’s a very simple meal [of] meatless vegetable soup, a slice of white bread, and water to drink,” Drury said. “It is reflective of the clientele that we serve…many of them are struggling financially, and it’s very reflective of a meal that they could have put together for themselves at home.” 

Thanks to Savannah Anderson, the Assistant Manager of C.C.’s Closet, a variety of bowls with various designs were available for guests to choose from. 

Afterward, they were free to take a bowl home if they so chose. 

“She started putting [word] on Facebook that we would have bowls to put the soup in and let people take home, and we had about 250 bowls donated,” Drury added. “We’re just very grateful to everybody that has….really made a big difference and helped us make this happen.” 

Will Grant, a Winchester resident, was one of many individuals who partook in the fundraiser.

He spoke afterward. 

“It’s just such a good cause to help…Clark County Community Services and the people involved,” he said. “The soup was very good on top of that!”