• Community Cooperative Announces 22nd Annual Sam Galloway, Jr. & Friends Soup Kitchen Benefit Menu

     

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    Community Cooperative Announces 22nd Annual Sam Galloway, Jr. & Friends Soup Kitchen Benefit Menu

    FORT MYERS, Fla. (January 23, 2025) – The 22nd Annual Sam Galloway, Jr. & Friends Soup Kitchen Benefit for Community Cooperative will take place on Thursday, March 6, 2025, at Sam Galloway Ford in Fort Myers. This highly anticipated event will showcase a variety of delicious Southern cuisine, brought to life by some of the area’s best restaurants and culinary talents.

    The Soup Kitchen Benefit Menu is set to captivate guests with a remarkable selection of dishes that showcase the vibrant flavors of Southwest Florida. Community Cooperative is excited to announce the local restaurants and businesses that have partnered with them to create this year’s menu, ensuring a memorable culinary experience for all attendees.

    “We are deeply grateful to all the individuals and businesses that have partnered with us for this year’s Sam Galloway, Jr. & Friends Soup Kitchen Benefit Menu, many of whom have supported us for numerous years,” said Stefanie Ink Edwards, CEO of Community Cooperative. “Your continued generosity and commitment are what make this event so meaningful. Together, we are uniting as a community to take impactful steps toward ending hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida. We are truly thankful for your ongoing dedication to this important cause.”

    Local Restaurants and businesses that donated food and or beverages include:

    Appetizers

    Chris and Kaitlin Whitaker of Garden Goddess & LYNQ

    Brian & Chef Gloria Jordan of Jordan’s

    Garden Salad

    Will Prather and Maureen Green-Prather of Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre

    Bar-b-que Chicken & Green Beans

    Vickie and Andre Jones of Jonesez BBQ

    Smoked Pork & Swamp Cabbage

    Wesley Hansen, Jr., and Deanna Hansen

    Meatloaf & Mashed Potatoes

    Sam’s Community Café & Kitchen at Community Cooperative

    Smoked Brisket & Baked Beans

    Mike Gavala, Wally Thomas and Brian Gear of Nevermind Awesome Bar & Eatery

    Southern Fried Shrimp & Cheese Grits

    Tim and Healy Yoa of Artisan Eatery

    Collard Greens & Okra and Tomatoes

    Chip and Besty Barnwell of The Farmer’s Market Restaurant

    Mac & Cheese

    Chef Calcedonio and Genevieve Bruno of Bruno’s of Brooklyn

    Desserts

    Norman Love Confections

    Sandy Stilwell Youngquist of Keylime Bistro

    Uncle Charlie’s Cookies Ministry

    Beverages

    Mast Family Culligan

    The Mitchell Family of Suncoast Beverage

    The Ranch Concert Hall & Saloon

    Seed & Bean Market

    Staffing

    Mike and Karen Gavala of G3 Catering

    Ticket Options:

    Individual Ticket: $200 – Individual seat at a table, dinner served buffet style.

    Soup Spoon Sponsorship: $2,500 – 8 tickets, dinner served buffet style.

    Soup Bowl Sponsorship (VIP): $5,000 – 10 tickets, table service for dinner.

    To secure your tickets or sponsor a table for the event, please contact Jade@CommunityCooperative.com or visit www.CommunityCooperative.com/events/sam-galloway-jr-friends-soup-kitchen-benefit-5/.

    About the Soup Kitchen Benefit:

    The Sam Galloway, Jr. & Friends Soup Kitchen Benefit has been a pillar of compassion and support for the past 20 years, providing hope and a sense of community to countless individuals. This event directly contributes to Community Cooperative’s mission of ending hunger and fostering unity in Southwest Florida.

    About Community Cooperative

    Since 1984, Community Cooperative has worked to effectively eliminate hunger and homelessness in Southwest Florida while simultaneously inspiring and supporting sustained positive change in its clients by delivering innovative food, education, and social service programs. With a dedicated team of volunteers, board of directors, and staff, Community Cooperative stays committed to its core responsibility to collect and distribute resources through a strong and viable network of community partners. Community Cooperative is an exemplary steward of the resources entrusted to it and serves clients with compassion and integrity. Through collaboration and ongoing education, Community Cooperative supports and strengthens those whose lives have been affected by hunger and homelessness, ensuring that they have access to the resources necessary to transform their lives with dignity.

    Media Contact: Aliyah Santana, Social Media & Marketing Coordinator, Aliyah@CommunityCooperative.com or call (239) 332-7687 ext. 105.