Naperville Rotarians spread 'goodwill' donations from Soup's On

In seven years, donations to the Rotary Club of Naperville's Soup's On fundraiser have provided enough money for Hesed House in Aurota to help 197 people out of homelessness.

And Hesed House is just one of the three charities that got another oversized check Thursday from Rotary leaders who were distributing money raised at last October's event.

Rotarians donated roughly $97,000 Thursday, broken into $32,333 segments, to Hesed House, Loaves & Fishes Community Services and DuPage PADS. Another $32,333 raised last fall will stay with the club to be distributed to roughly 25 charities through a social services grant.

"There's just so much goodwill and caring from the people in this club," said Wendy Gross, co-chairwoman of the seventh annual Soup's On event in 2014.

When the fundraiser got started, the recent recession was just beginning and Bill and Karen Garlough of My Chef Catering thought the economic downturn could be particularly tough on food pantries. More clients would come in needing meals, Bill Garlough said, and fewer donors would have the funds to spare.

"We thought they might get squeezed both ways," Garlough said.

So Rotarians organized a family-friendly food tasting extravaganza with musical entertainment by high school performers and 25 restaurants offering samples. Recipient charities from Naperville, Aurora and Wheaton were chosen to give the event a broader community appeal, and people came hungry.

"You get to come in and graze," Garlough said. "You've got to really cherry-pick what you feel like eating that day."

The successful fundraising process has been repeated six times since, generating a total of $790,000 for three charities that provide food and shelter to those in need.

Michael Cobb, executive director of Hesed House, said his organization has received more than $230,000 from Soup's On, and Charles McLimans, outgoing president and CEO of Loaves & Fishes Community Services, said the fundraiser has helped move the Naperville nonprofit from a pantry to a more complete assistance agency.

"It really helped us to get through the Great Recession," McLimans said. "It's really strengthened the social services infrastructure in DuPage County."