New Bethany will hold its 32nd annual Souper Day on Friday, September 22nd, 2023, at 11 a.m. at ArtsQuest in Bethlehem. Proceeds from the event will support New Bethany’s efforts to serve those affected by housing, food insecurity, and poverty in the region.
Souper Day 2023 follows a notably impactful time for Pennsylvania residents: SNAP benefits were reduced in February, and New Bethany served a record-high 151 lunches from its Southside Drop-in Center on May 26, which is an 80% increase over the same day in 2022. New Bethany’s Choice Food Pantry has seen a 77% increase in households seeking access to groceries between April 2022 and 2023, and Trinity Kitchen has seen a 15% increase over the same period.
“Since SNAP benefits were reduced in February, we have seen a consistent increase in the number of people seeking food assistance,” said Marc Rittle, executive director of New Bethany. “New Bethany has expanded our nutritious food access program to meet this need, but none of our programs would be possible without the support of our dedicated donors and volunteers. Due to the success of last year’s Souper Day, we were able to offer street-level human services to nearly 2,000 people and housing assistance to 929 households. I’m excited to see the impact this year’s event has on the community.”
This year’s luncheon will feature keynote speaker Gwen Didden, executive director of Berks County and Northampton County Housing Authorities, and Kelly A. Chando, director of development at St. Luke’s University Health Network, who will serve as Master of Ceremonies. Event attendees can expect to hear from New Bethany’s clients and staff about the organization’s progress this past year and its future goals.
Sponsorship opportunities are available to help New Bethany build a community of hope for those in need.
Registration is required by September 14, 2023. For more information, sponsor opportunities, and event registration, please visit https://newbethanyministries.org/event/32nd-annual-souper-day-event/.
