Souper Bowl 2016 is Here!

By Samantha Husted

sam@coastalbreezenews.com

The Souper Bowl is back and we’re not talking football. On Saturday February 6th, 10 different local restaurants will set up shop at the Mackle Park Airnasium, bringing with them 20 gallons of soup each.

The event, which is in its fourth year, is organized by the Marco Island Chamber of Commerce in order to benefit Leadership Marco’s scholarship fund. Last year through the Souper Bowl, as well as the organization’s other event Wet Paint LIVE, Leadership Marco was able to raise an impressive $20,000 for students.

Each year 20 to 30 local high schoolers apply for the scholarship. Leadership Marco, through their application process, which includes an interview, eventually narrows that number down to about five students who receive the funding. Scholarships are awarded each May.

“It’s really inspiring to see these kids work so hard,” said Chamber Board Member and Co-chair to the Education Committee, Jada Shigley. “I love that we are able to give back to people in our community. That’s so important.”

In preparation for the Souper Bowl, earlier this year the Chamber hosted a bowl-painting event. Over 1,200 soup bowls were hand painted by local students, volunteers, and other members of the community. Last year only 1,000 bowls were available and each one of them sold. This year, organizers upped the number of bowls, as well as the amount of soup provided, so that everyone can sample and have fun.

The restaurants that volunteered their time, and of course their soups, are:

Mango’s Dockside Bistro, Italian Wedding Soup

The Speak Easy, Potato Corn Chowder

Quinn’s on the Beach, Chicken Pazole Verde

Petit Soleil, Cream of Wild Mushroom Soup

CJ’s on the Bay, Stuffed Pepper Soup

Philly Grille, Texas Soup

Marker 8.5, Half & Half Chowder

Ciao Bella, Pasta Fagioli

AMIkids Big Cypress, Jamaican Beef Soup

Stonewalls, Loaded Potato Soup

On Friday, February 5th between 3:30 and 6 PM, Mackle Park will be hosting a presale for parents who’d like to purchase their child’s bowl.

The Souper Bowl is Saturday, February 6, from 11 AM to 1 PM at Mackle Park, and costs $15 to participate. For more information call 239-394-7549.