The idea of neatly packaging soups for a quick meal was partly due to crippling anxiety, and partly in response to the rationalization that many of us had just lost our jobs and consequently our ability to afford a meal. What can I do to help? How can I stay connected to family and friends? How do I stave off the cabin fever so quickly setting in? The answer, as in much of my life, was to cook. And having worked in pho shops both here and in Philadelphia, I knew the quality, convenience, and affordability in a bowl of soup.

Concern for friends soon turned into concern for the community as food bank lines were decimated in minutes and unemployment claims skyrocketed. So Soup Noodle Soup started out as a pay it forward program. For anyone willing and able, a purchase of a bowl of soup provided the next one for a neighbor in need. And as things started to stabilize, SNS became a sign of goodwill. Friends purchased family packs for one another. As restaurants opened back up to empty dining rooms, we delivered “support a staff” packages to feed industry folks who were still uneasy about their situation but needed to return to work. All the while, I was staying in contact with old friends, meeting new faces, and building bridges with the neighbors around me. Community became a shining light in a place and time darkened by so much isolation.

And now we’re here. Soup Noodle Soup has transformed into an impromptu pop up event, running curated dinners and employing the help of all our friends we made along the way. Community is still the focus. We hope to grow with our neighbors and our city. We hope to see new and familiar faces. We hope you come say hi and dig into a bowl of soup. We hope it gives you a warm fuzzy feeling when you do. And if you’ve gotten this far on our journey with us, Thanks!

-Andrew