Bellwood Soup Luncheon a Delicious Success

PADUCAH, KY – First Presbyterian Church held their “Winter Warm Up Soup Luncheon” today at the church. Proceeds benefited the Paducah church’s Bellewood independent living ministry

Today’s chilly and rainy weather proved to be the perfect day for soup. In fact, over 200 people enjoyed soups donated by eight of Paducah’s finest restaurants for the luncheon which was held from 11-1pm today at First Presbyterian Church. $5 got you a bowl of soup, bread crackers a drink and dessert. The fabulous homemade desserts were provided by the Presbyterian Women’s group. iSurfPaducah was one of many different groups, office staffs and individuals who came out in support of this worthwhile cause.

”Our goal was 200 people, and we are already past that goal with 30 minutes left to go,” said Karen Story, one of the members of Bellewood’s Advisory Committee. “That puts us well past our total last year and our goal for this year as well.”

Applebee’s, Pasta House Company, Whaler’s Catch, Holman House, Sulli’s Steakhouse, Doe’s, Gold Rush and Artisan Kitchen provided the soups for the luncheon, which is in it’s second year.

Bellewood is a Presbyterian ministry that has been in existence in the 1890’s, and in Paducah since 2007. The purpose of the ministry is to assist with independent living skills for individuals who reach 18 years old and age out of foster care. If they choose to remain in state custody, they are assigned a case manager. This enables them to keep some of their benefits, including paid college tuition, free room and board and an additional stipend. In return they have to have a job, keep their grades up and Bellewood then works with them to keep them on track and do drug testing and things like that.

Currently the church has nine individuals that they work with, but have space for up to 15.

“Many of our kids are ones that weren’t adopted as infants or younger children,” said Story. “They bounced from foster home to foster home or group living and when the turn 18 no one has taught them how to do a budget, or pick a major and choose their college classes and stay on that course. Those are the types of things we do.”

A recent grant award will also enable Bellewood to assist in preventative care.

“With this grant award we can expand our services and work with families so that the kids won’t be pulled from the home and get pulled out of the system,” Story said.

The people of Bellewood and First Presbyterian church wish to thank everyone for coming out and making the luncheon so successful, as well as the restaurants involved. They know that without such generosity it would not have been possible.

iSurf Paducah

Thursday, January 21, 2010

By Eddie Grant