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It is no secret that these past couple of years have been full of challenges and thats why local nonprofits need your support now more than ever. Our Good for Santa Barbara Nonprofit Section provides all the resources you need to donate this holiday season!
In this interview, Noozhawk spoke with Jennifer Hyle, Development Director at Organic Soup Kitchen to learn more about their mission to provide metabolic oncology nutrition and food security those struggling with the effects of cancer and chronic illness.
Organic Soup Kitchen
Question: What is the name & mission of your nonprofit?
Answer: Organic Soup Kitchen. Our mission is to provide metabolic oncology nutrition and food security to a diverse demographic of individuals struggling with the effects of cancer and chronic illness.
Q: What was the inspiration behind your nonprofit?
A: The inspiration behind Organic Soup Kitchen is a deep passion for helping others and the belief that all people should have access to lifesaving nutrition and food security. Every day we are inspired by the thousands of clients, most of whom are battling cancer and chronic illness.
Q: How is your nonprofit primarily funded and what are your greatest needs?
A: We are primarily funded by community members, private and family foundations. As demand sharply rises and funding slows, our greatest need is for donations to support our growing waiting list. You can join our incredible team of SouperHeroes with a one time donation or monthly sponsorship of a full month’s worth of SoupMeals for someone in treatment or recovering from cancer. All donations go directly toward purchasing the medicinal quality organic ingredients used in all our handcrafted nutrient dense SoupMeals.
Q: What types of fundraisers and/or programs does your nonprofit run?
A: Our Cancer & Chronic Illness Prevention and Recovery Program is the only one of its kind providing premium nutrition and food security straight to the doors of Santa Barbara County residents each week.
More than 90% of our clients are low income, 95% are age 65+ and nearly 70% are people of color. We prioritize community members who are most impacted by medical and financial inequities. We receive referrals and distribute SoupMeals in collaboration with more than 25 health and human service agencies aligned with our mission.
Q: What makes your nonprofit different from others?
A: Since 2009, we have been the only organization handcrafting and delivering nutrient-dense SoupMeals to Santa Barbara’s most vulnerable residents. We procure premium medicinal quality ingredients, including locally grown organic produce, clinically formulate recipes, hand craft, package and distribute SoupMeals to the doorsteps of thousands of residents each month.
Q: What is one best kept secret or fun fact about your nonprofit that not everyone knows?
A: Each week, we use more than 1500 pounds of produce in our SoupMeals. Plus, 75% of that is locally grown which means that our agency reduces food waste, minimizes its carbon footprint and contributes directly to the local food economy.
Q: Can you share one or two stories of individuals whose lives have been changed because of your organization?
A: Malnutrition is one of the most serious side effects of cancer treatments and affects up to 80% of cancer patients according to the National Cancer Institute. Victor Bartolome, Santa Barbara resident and former NBA basketball player, knows this better than anyone. After experiencing five years of chemotherapy and its debilitating side effects, including no appetite and weight loss, he was at great risk of malnutrition. “I was in dire need of nourishment,” he says. “There wasn’t a better medicine imaginable than Organic Soup Kitchen.”
Victor is one of the many cancer survivors who has relied on Organic Soup Kitchen’s nutrient dense SoupMeals for lifesaving nutrition. At the age of 36, Danielle Netko received the worst news of her life, a diagnosis of Hodgkin’s Lymphoma with a 7 millimeter tumor. After months of alternative treatment and a regular diet of Organic Soup Kitchen soups, her tumor shrunk to ⅔ millimeter. She shares her story to give others hope after a devastating diagnosis. She firmly believes that the combination of Organic Soup Kitchen soups and holistic therapies were the magic ingredients in her recovery.
Q: How does the work of your nonprofit get communicated to the public?
A: We collaborate with a network of more than 25 health and human service agencies to ensure that we reach the most vulnerable residents. We have an active social media presence and website to engage our community and promote accessibility and inclusion.
Q: Why should donors trust your organization and are there other ways to help outside of donations?
A: We have been in operation since 2009 and have received a platinum rating on Guidestar and Charity Navigator. We have received countless awards including recognition as a Food Systems Hero at the 2021 United Nations Food Summit. We have been nominated as a proud member of 1% for the Planet. Our organization is 85% volunteer led which means that the majority of donations go directly towards serving our clients.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to share about your nonprofit that has not been mentioned above?
A: Buy one. Give one. All community members can purchase our SoupMeals on our website. As a nonprofit, we rely primarily on community donations. However, 100% of all soup purchases directly support our mission and contribute to 8% of program costs.
Click here to support the Organic Soup Kitchen’s mission to provide nutrition and food security to local individuals struggling with the effects of cancer and chronic illness.
Check out Noozhawk’s Guide to Giving for a full list of nonprofits to donate to this giving season.