[Photo: The winners of the Bowl of Abundance soup cook-off were Brian Henderson in first place, Betty Perkins in second place and Becky Jones in third place. (Contributed photo)]

The annual Bowl of Abundance fundraiser for the Open Door Soup Kitchen raised $2,100 to support the nonprofit’s mission of feeding the hungry in Hoke County.

The Raeford-Hoke Christian Ministerial Alliance held the fundraiser Saturday, February 18 at Hillcrest Baptist Church. The cooking competition offered churches the chance to cook up their best pot of soup. Attendees could get an all-you-can-eat bowl of soup for a donation of $10 to include a commemorative bowl, or $5 for a regular bowl. The event was so popular that the soup sold out by the afternoon.

Besides the funds raised from the all-you-can-eat soup bowls, the fundraiser also collected donations. Manna Church, State Rep. Garland Pierce, the Harvest Church of Raeford, builders Kent Haywood, Justin Goodman and Byron Jones, just to name a few, all donated between $75 and $200 each to the soup kitchen, Rev. Al Anderson said.

“I’d like to say to all of them that we’re very grateful, and we thank you for your continued support of the Hoke County Open Door Soup Kitchen,” he said.

The Hoke County Open Door Soup Kitchen feeds the hungry three times a week at 320 Turnpike Road in Raeford, and gives away boxes of food for those in need. The nonprofit also operates a clothes closet. Supporters who wish to donate money to the Open Door Soup Kitchen can do so directly through CashApp by sending donations to $AAOpenDoor, or drop off or mail checks to the soup kitchen on Turnpike Road.

For more information on Open Door Soup Kitchen, contact Rev. Al Anderson at (404) 971-7408.