This Thursday everyone in Frankfort has an opportunity to be a volunteer for the Red Cross just by supporting the bean soup lunch at VFW Post 4075, 104 E. Second St.
And there’s even more in store than two varieties of delicious homemade soups, cornbread, dessert and drinks. Local volunteers will put their best baked offerings up for bid in a silent auction.
That means if you need a dessert for the office or home, all you have to be is the highest bidder and you can walk away with delicious cakes that are guaranteed to please any group. Plus your generous donations make a difference in local relief efforts.
To tempt your taste buds, the offerings include German Chocolate Upside Down Cake, Chocolate Praline Cake, Blackberry and Angel Food cakes. Plus Farmers Bank and Red Head Custom Cakes are also donating specialty cakes.
If you have never tried Jane Smith’s angel food cake, don’t miss it. She has been making these for at least 30 years. The angel food cake is so versatile; it can stand alone as a low-fat dessert or be topped with your favorite berries and whipped cream for a true taste treat. Plus, if kept wrapped it will stay fresh for a tempting weekend dessert.
Also up for bid will be an ice cream sandwich dessert that can be purchased and delivered to your Super Bowl party Feb. 5. It is a gooey, yummy dessert filled with ice cream sandwiches, chocolate sauce, whipped cream and Snickers. A game-day crowd pleaser for sure.
Bakers include Smith, Sherry Wade, Nadine Cox, Stacy Jacobs, Kim Black, Susan Dance, Debbie Brown and me.
In addition to the silent cake auction, chances can be purchased for two UK basketball tickets, a country ham and a Pampered Chef basket.
In all cases, bidders or chance holders do not have to be present to win.
The Franklin County Chapter has been hosting the annual bean soup lunch for 15 years. According to Chapter Executive Director Paula Rutledge, the $5 charge has never changed.
“The money raised Thursday stays here locally and is strictly used for disaster relief such as local house fires,” Rutledge said.
Veteran Red Cross volunteer Harold Canon and his buddy crew make the bean soup, cornbread and several dessert cakes. A diabetic-friendly dessert is also provided.
Canon has been the official soup maker since the bean soup lunch began. The VFW donates use of the hall.
“It has been a real labor of love and service by Harold and his team,” Rutledge said.
“Last year, (July 1-June 30) Red Cross volunteers responded to 14 fires and spent around $15,000 on direct assistance.”
So far since July 1, the Red Cross has responded to eight fires.
According to Rutledge, the lunch after expenses generates less than a third of the revenue needed for local response assistance.
“The annual bean soup lunch certainly helps us and we are so grateful to those who support us either through attendance or donations,” Rutledge said.
“But we also rely on the generous donations from the community throughout the year to ensure we can help those in need of services right here in Frankfort.”
The bean soup lunch is a user-friendly event that includes carryout and delivery and runs from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Free delivery is available to locations where 10 or more orders are placed. Advance orders for carryout or delivery are welcome beginning Monday and may be made by calling (502) 319-1281.
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