Mmm. Mmm. Good. 'Winter Soup Lunch' brings hundreds to Sandwich church drive-through

SANDWICH — As cars lined up on Wednesday at First Church Sandwich, volunteer Diane Ranney carefully hustled up and down the long, ice-covered driveway, delivering warmth to both the spirit and the body.

Since about 2015, the church at 136 Main St. has held "Winter Soup Lunch," from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., every Wednesday between Jan. 10 and Feb. 28, said volunteer Chris Ranney, Diane's husband. Anyone is welcome to either drive through and pick up their soup, or sit down and eat at dressed tables inside the church, he said.

"This helps the church show how much love it has for the wider community," said the Rev. Tina Walker-Morin, church pastor. "We want to share the love through food."

If supplies run low, volunteers will hand out frozen soups.

"The soup may be hot, it may be not — but either way they get to take it home," said Diane Ranney, who greets each vehicle with a menu and a wide, welcoming smile.

"Last week we had over 40 people come inside to eat soup, and we helped 140 families that drove through," said Chris Ranney.

The free Wednesday soup lunch in Sandwich is one of at least a handful of winter community lunches offered on Cape Cod including the Soup Kitchen in Provincetown.

Soup for a family

When Liz Depasqua of Sandwich pulled her car into the drive-through line, she handed Diane Ranney a cash donation, and ordered enough soup for her immediate family and some for her parents. Her children, she said, attend First Church's Joyful Noise Preschool and she wants to support the church.

"Sometimes we will also go inside and eat soup along with community members," said Depasqua.

The convenience of the drive-through, said Depasqua, who is pregnant and current mother to four children, "also doesn't hurt."

"The soups are so delicious," she said. "This is a great community event."

How volunteers stay ahead of the crowd

Volunteers such as Michael Pottey arrive at the church around 10 a.m. to cook and to package soup in microwave-safe containers.

About eight to 10 volunteers join him in the church basement every week. On Wednesday, Pottey was watching his apple butternut squash bisque simmer.

Most of the soups, which include Italian wedding, chicken noodle, tomato bisque, lemon chicken orzo, and vegetarian chili, are cooked and donated by fellow parishioners, said Pottey.

"The soup I made today is the same soup I make for the church fair every November," said Pottey. "I make 50 pints and I sell out every year."

Local businesses like Lo Adoro Italian Market also take part each year by donating soup and bread, said Chris Ranney.

Sweet treats are also homemade and Pottey was quick to mention his specialty almond cakes, which were served along with soup on Wednesday.

"Veterans groups come to eat, also people from Cape Abilities, and school children. I love the camaraderie," said Pottey, a retired chemical engineer.

How did "Winter Soup Lunch" begin?

Wally and Wendy King came up with "Winter Soup Lunch" and ran the operation for five years.

The couple hoped "Winter Soup Lunch" could help parishioners socialize on a cold winter's day, said Chris Ranney who took over the task in 2019.

"A lot of our parishioners are single-person households and this gave them a chance to hang out with friends," Ranney said.

For Nancy Crossman of Sandwich the soup lunch has become a weekly must-do.

"We usually go inside to eat and it's a way to catch up with people," said Crossman.

Beth Cummings of Forestdale, who accompanied Crossman on Wednesday, said the soup lunch is her way to get out "into town."

"We go in and gab," said Cummings. "I get to see what's happening around town."

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Chris Ranney said the inside luncheons were shut down and the lunch became drive-through only.

"The volunteer crew here has been doing this for a long time," said Chris Ranney. "It fills all of us up to do this work. It's heartwarming."

'We aren't doing this for the money'

It's frigid during most "Winter Soup Lunch" events, but Diane Ranney loves to bundle up and spend time with the public. Throughout the years, she's also been able to help people who are food and shelter insecure she said.

"One woman asked if she could take another soup and I told her she could have as many as she needed," she said. "She gave a donation and that was amazing. But we aren’t doing this for the money."Walker-Martin agreed, saying it is emotionally rewarding to be helping the wider community.

"This is how we live our faith and share and care for each other," she said.

Rachael Devaney writes about community and culture. Reach her at rdevaney@capecodonline.com. Follow her on Twitter: @RachaelDevaney.

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This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Free soup and socializing? Winter lunch at Sandwich church opens doors