Local Residents Soup Up for Charity -The Soup Crawl for Project

Who doesn’t love a good bowl of soup? And when that bowl is paired with a good cause, the appeal is irresistible.

On a recent cold, blustery day, local residents John Puchalski, Matt and Tyler Christie, and John Portela were waxing poetic on the merits of a good bowl of soup. With those thoughts swirling about, the friends decided to form a “soup crawl” where they would frequent local restaurants with soup on the menu; soon the idea expanded to include collecting for Project PAUL, the Keansburg-based charity that services qualified people in the Bayshore area of Monmouth County, including Keansburg, Aberdeen, Atlantic Highlands, Fair Haven, Hazlet, Highlands, Holmdel, Keyport, Little Silver, Matawan, Middletown, Monmouth Beach, Rumson, Sea Bright, Shrewsbury and Union Beach.

“The whole idea began as a fun way to be with friends and support local businesses,” explains John Puchalski. “COVID has really impacted so many people and businesses and this is a great way to help.”

The Soup Crawl is on Saturday, April 2, 2022, 2:30 pm, and begins at The Globe, West Front Street, Red Bank. The crawl route includes The Dublin House, Monmouth Street, Red Bank, continues to McDonagh’s, West Front Street, Keyport, and wraps up at Dowling’s, Union Avenue, Union Beach. All are local establishments with great soup on the menu and have plans to add more soup for the crawl. The crawl is free and open to all; details on the itinerary and ways to donate can be found on Instagram @thesoupcrawl, #thecrawlgivesback and #soupszn.