The Manchester crew serves the winning soup.

So many soups ... so little time!

Organizer Jeff Hanaway gets an appreciation certificate from the Kidney Foundation.

The competition was tough at the first ‘Souper Bowl’ event, sponsored by Sodexho Food Services at Manchester Township High School, but the home team took home the trophy with their Potato Leek Soup entry.  The real winners were the National Kidney Foundation and the Ocean-Monmouth County Food Bank, which benefited from the charity event.

Jeff Hanaway, Sodexho Food Services Manager for Manchester Township Schools, said the event was designed to be a friendly competition among the 13 school district food service departments from throughout the state that participated.  Patrons sampled each district’s soup and voted on their favorite while enjoying live entertainment.  Local schools that participated included Central Regional HS, Stafford Elementary, Southern Regional HS, Berkeley Elementary and Ocean County Vo-Tech at Lakehurst.  Maybe it was the home-field advantage that put Manchester’s entry, made by Lynda Donnelly, over the top with the most votes.

“I am so humbled and proud of the outpouring of support from everyone that was involved, especially the schools that were in attendance, some traveling hours to get here.  Every soup entered could have won, they were all delicious,” said Hanaway.  “Special thanks the National Kidney Foundation representatives for coming down from New York to be in attendance.  Also, I would like to thank everyone who contributed to the gift auction, which was a huge success.  I cannot forget to the thank Kelloggs, Kraft, AFI-PFG, Anthony and Sons Bakery, Coca-Cola and Seaview Beverage for their donations, as well as WOBM, NJ 101.5, and the Asbury Park Press for helping us get the word out.   Of course, all of this could not have happened without the support of Manchester Township School District and Sodexho.  Thanks to all of these contributors, and the generous people who attended, we exceeded our goal.”

Hanaway said he was approached by numerous people in attendance who were affected either directly or indirectly by kidney disease and were thankful for the event.  He was pleased that everyone seemed to really enjoy themselves and were looking forward to next year.

The National Kidney Foundation is dedicated to preventing kidney disease and improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by kidney disease.  Proceeds from the Souper Bowl went to the Kidney Foundation, while food donations made by attendees went to the Ocean-Monmouth County Foodbank.