Soup Kitchen

The Rabbi Peter and Elaine Knobel Soup Kitchen at Beth Emet

 

Donate Today!


Every Wednesday evening since 2002, Beth Emet has opened its doors to members of our community in need of a nutritious dinner.

Guests sit at linen-covered tables with fresh flowers and listen to live music while enjoying their meal, and they leave with a sack lunch to enjoy on the following day.

Please email the volunteer coordinator, Susan Melczer, for more details and available dates.

Read more about the wonderful 20th-anniversary celebration and the renaming of the Soup Kitchen that was held on Sunday, March 19, 2023.


Additional Ways to Support the Soup Kitchen

Do you have a group of friends, family, or colleagues who would like to “sponsor” a night at the Soup Kitchen? Sign up as a group coordinator, assemble your team, and dole out assignments for the onsite and at-home tasks mentioned above! Groups also contribute to the purchase of the bulk of the meal by donating $350 to the soup kitchen. Please note there are a limited dates available.

Please email the volunteer coordinator, Susan Melczer, for more details and available dates.


Keeping the Soup Kitchen pantry stocked with essential supplies keeps our doors open. You can help us defray operational costs by donating some items to our pantry. Items may be dropped off at Beth Emet during business hours.

The Soup Kitchen pantry needs:

  • Salad dressing (Italian or Balsamic)
  • Large cans of coffee (ground)
  • Large containers of non-dairy creamer
  • Pourable sugar
  • Napkins
  • Quart and gallon size ziplock bags
  • Hefty Earthchoice 3 compartment containers (9×8.8×3)
  • Bottled, aluminum cans or boxed water
  • Individual hot chocolate packets
  • Easy-open cans or pouches of tuna fish
  • 8 – 12 oz. hot cups with lids (not styrofoam)

Here are opportunities in which you can generously support the Soup Kitchen:

$5,000 – Preserve the Soup Kitchen’s legacy and bolster infrastructure
$1,800 – Nourish 140 guests with lunch, dinner, and community
$720 – Underwrite the salary for Security & Maintenance Teams for one month
$360 – Provide nutritious side dishes for three months
$180 – Sponsor entrée proteins for one week
$108 – Furnish compostable supplies for an evening
$54 – Supply pantry staples (i.e., spices, coffee, tea)
Or whatever amount you wish to contribute.

Beth Emet members may donate online through the member portal. Others may make donations online.

Donations may also be made by checks made payable to Beth Emet The Free Synagogue.

Please indicate “Soup Kitchen” in the check memo and mail to:
Beth Emet Synagogue
1224 Dempster Street
Evanston, IL 60202