Manchester Takes Top Spot at 'Souper Bowl' Fundraiser

When Jeff Hanaway, general manager and food service director for Sodexo, learned that many of his friends, family and coworkers suffered from kidney disease, he knew that he had to do something about it.

That, combined with a love for soup and cooking, led the man who manages meals for Manchester Township Schools to create the "Souper Bowl," a soup cook-off fundraiser, in 2008.

"Kidney disease is a silent killer and so many people are afflicted with it," he said. "Because I personally know so many people, I wanted to bring the issue to the forefront."

The idea for a best tasting soup challenge came from Hanaway's "love of soup."

"What better way to do that, but in the winter time where you can get people out of their homes and interested and make them aware of kidney disease," he said.

School districts with food services managed by Sodexo were invited to prepare a soup for the competition. 

Those in attendance paid an entrance fee and were asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Ocean and Monmouth County Food Banks as part of Sodexo's "Stop the Hunger" campaign. 

Attendees were also asked to stop at each table set up around Manchester High's cafeteria, sample each soup and vote for their favorite.

At the end of the night, the school with the best soup wins a silver spoon trophy and "bragging rights," Hanaway said. 

This year, Manchester Township High School took the top spot with its potato leek soup. Second place went to Southern Regional 9-10 Building with its strawberry bisque soup, and third place went to Ocean Tonwship’s corn and crab chowder.

A band played live music and a 50/50 raffle and gift auction were held. Gifts were donated by food vendors that work with Sodexo, company employees and others in the community. Sixty-two gifts were raffled off, including food baskets, an MP3 player, a Vera Bradley bag and two hockey pucks signed by star players from the New Jersey Devils and the New York Rangers.

At every table, Sodexo employees stood by their soup and socialized with colleagues from different schools. Every employee said that they were having fun and happy to be involved with such a great cause.  

"For the past two years, we have exceeded our goal for the donation to the National Kidney foundation and gathered around 150 to 200 pounds of food for the food bank," Hanaway said. "I think this year will be the same, because this is the best turnout yet."

Hanaway said that he feels lucky to have the support of the many people who help make this wonderful event happen. 

"I am very fortunate to have the board of education behind me, my company Sodexo is also behind me, all of my employees who help out and all of the community who donated the gifts for the auction," he said.