Soup Stop will be hosting a fundraiser from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday at the Charleston Carnegie Public Library.

Soup Stop is a non-profit organization funded through donations and run by volunteers that has been in Charleston since 2001.

Mary Nance-Miller, the chair of Soup Stop, said the organization started because a place was needed to provide hot meals to those who needed something to eat.

“One of the pastors in town at the Presbyterian Church recognized that there was a need in the community to provide a hot meal, and there were other places people could get food, but not a hot meal,” Nance-Miller said.

The mission of the organization is to provide meals in a friendly atmosphere to anyone in the community, according to Soup Stop’s website.

The organization is able to provide meals from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday through Friday to anyone who comes in to the Otterbein United Methodist Church.

Individuals are not required to reveal any personal or financial information to receive a meal from Soup Stop.

Nance-Miller said beginning on Monday, Soup Stop will also be providing free transportation to its location from Huck’s Convenient Food Store. Individuals must be at Huck’s at 11 a.m., and a ride will be provided back at 12:15 p.m.

“A lot of our people have to walk, and we’re kind of far out,” Nance-Miller said. “So we decided that we would offer free transportation and see if there’s anybody who might want a free ride.”

The upcoming fundraiser will help Soup Stop continue to keep operating so it can continue to help the community, she said.

Nance-Miller said the organization has no fundraising goal for the event and will accept any donations that people provide.

The event is free to enter and donations will also be accepted at the door to benefit hungry individuals in Charleston.

“For all of our fundraisers, we never charge because we want everyone to feel free to come whether they have money or not,” Nance-Miller said.

The fundraiser will provide coffee donated by Starbucks and desserts including tea and homemade cookies.

There will also be a silent auction featuring baked goods and items donated by local businesses including Vintage Cottage Beauty, Christy’s Hair Connection, Pampered Chef, Mack Moore’s Shoe Store and many others.

Local artists such as photographer Angela Freeman and apron maker Rhonda Tuthill will also be providing items.

The fundraiser will also include music by local band Tequila Mockingbyrd that plays ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s rock music.

Soup Stop accepts donations of food items and non-food items, and people may also donate and drop off items at Otterbein United Methodist Church in Charleston between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. from Monday through Friday.

People can stop by between 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Carnegie Public Library to help support Soup Stop’s fundraiser and mission of helping provide meals to individuals in need in the community.

Chris Picazo can be reached at 581-2812 or cepicazo@eiu.edu.