By Melanie Lekocevic
Capital Region Independent Media
Editor’s Note: Food, fun and fellowship — they are the hallmarks of small-town life. Parishioners at Trinity United Methodist Church have for years helped their fellow community members build camaraderie with a hot bowl of soup and some warm friendship the first Saturday of every month in the winter. They call it Souper Saturdays.
COEYMANS HOLLOW — What’s better than a hot bowl of soup on a cold winter afternoon? How about a hot bowl of soup with friends, old and new, and a sense of fellowship?
For the past four or five years, parishioners at Trinity United Methodist Church in Coeymans Hollow have been doing just that through “Souper Saturdays” once a month when the weather turns brisk.
“It’s free and it’s open to anyone that would like to come,” parishioner Marion Shields said. “We want to show our friendship and that we are open to the public. We are here and we love everybody, and want them to come and join us.”
Shields, who makes a pasta fagioli loaded with hearty flavor, brought her dish along with bread and whatever else was needed at the Dec. 3 fellowship meal.
Souper Saturdays are held on the first Saturday of every month beginning in October and running through March, from noon to 2 p.m., in the downstairs community room at the church, located at 1313 Route 143 in Coeymans Hollow.
Sharon Snider, another parishioner who made her signature hearty tomato soup, said the monthly event is a way to share food and friendship with the community.
“We have been doing this for at least four or five years,” Snider said. “We want to reach out to the community and let them know there is free food here. You can come in and get food and socialize and just have fun.”
Some people who come to Souper Saturdays are regulars, but everyone is welcome and you don’t have to be a member of the church. Shields said a group of hunters were coming to the December meal and bringing with them homemade venison chili, with meat they hunted out in the field.
“We are here to reach out to people and let them know we are here to show them the love of the community,” Snider said. “Everyone is welcome.”
Parishioner Ginny Pearson has been helping out at Souper Saturdays since it began about five years ago. She made split pea soup to share with the guests.
“I love this. I love the camaraderie and the people coming into our church to see what we are all about,” Pearson said. “Come join us and see how good homemade soup is.”
George Seufert tries to come to Souper Saturdays just about every month, when he can.
“I like seeing everybody — old friends and neighbors,” Seufert said. “It’s fun and there’s good soup.”
The next Souper Saturday will be on Saturday, Jan. 7. All are welcome.