Students support the community through 'Ladles of Love'
Friday, February 28, 2025
Photos by Jennifer A. Cline, writer/magazine editor
Chef Frank M. Suchwala (second from left), who has led the college in contributing soup to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank's annual fundraising events for more than 14 years, leads students, from left: Jacob D. Eiswert, of Linden; Alexandria A. Colon, of Philadelphia; and Emma E. DelCampo, of West Chester.
Penn College’s baking & culinary program – under the lead of Chef Frank M. Suchwala, associate professor of hospitality management/culinary arts – prepared two of the five soups featured in the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s Ladles of Love fundraiser.
Students in this semester’s Foundations of Professional Cooking class spent much of their Wednesday session making the soups: 10 gallons each of smoked tomato basil soup and wild mushroom bisque.
It was a valuable learning opportunity for the students, all enrolled in baking & pastry arts, whose other classes don’t include such recipes. (Culinary arts technology students take the class in the fall.)
Ladles of Love is a takeout soup event to support Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s impact in Lycoming County and the surrounding counties that are served by the food bank’s Williamsport hub. (The organization also has a hub in Harrisburg.) Each quart of soup sold provides enough funds to provide 100 meals to neighbors facing food insecurity.
“The 253,000 neighbors we serve each month in central Pennsylvania need us now more than ever,” said Kristina Garman, development coordinator, marketing & administration for the food bank. “These are our friends and neighbors. Children who attend school with our children. This number reflects a 15% increase above the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic!”
Olivia M. Marcik, of Southampton, chops garlic for smoked tomato basil soup.
Soups were pre-ordered and picked up on Feb. 28. In addition to the college’s contributions, Ladles of Love also featured soups from The Peter Herdic House, Hillside Catering and The James Restaurant, rolls from Rise Up Village Bakery, and desserts from M and Em’s Sweet Sensations, Batter Up Bakery and the Warrior Run Family Career and Community Leaders of America Club.
The event is a reimagining of the food bank’s former annual Soup and a Bowl fundraiser, which was last held in 2020. Suchwala led the college’s culinary crew in supporting that event for more than 14 years.
“Ladles of Love goes far beyond fundraising for us; it is about creating and strengthening connections within our communities on behalf of our neighbors in need,” Garman said. “We are so deeply grateful to the community members and local businesses who provided financial sponsorships and donated their time and talents to make Ladles of Love a tremendous success! This event reminds us that when we combine our strengths and resources, we create lasting, positive impacts that echo far beyond an event itself.”
To learn more about Penn College's baking and culinary majors, call 570-327-4505.
Students Emma E. DelCampo, of West Chester, and Paul A. Shimp, of Reinholds, transfer stock.