By Lauri Lee
Dane Buy Local 

Pandemic closures have been especially hard on the restaurant industry. Soup’s On! was initiated by Dane Buy Local and supported by sponsors to help our locally owned restaurants and food carts stay in business until customers return. 

Greater Madison and many Northside residents purchased soup on a regular basis. A look at the statistics tells the story of the impact through March 9, when the program shifted the host venue from FEED Kitchens to Badger Prairie Network in Verona to provide a west side location until the end of April. 

FEED Kitchens served as the host venue for 13 weeks from mid-November 2020 through March 9. 

Through March 9, Soup’s On! sold 6,476 quarts of soup, with $78,343 returned to participating restaurants. 

Soup customers donated 739 quarts of soup to Healthy Food for All for distribution to food pantries and neighborhoods in need. 

Thanks to our generous sponsors: Arcus Communication and Design, Bunky’s Catering, The Capital Times, Communication Concepts, Dane Buy Local, FEED Kitchens, Kavanaugh’s Restaurant Supply, Metcalfe’s, Madison Essentials, TVW and Willy Street Co-op. 

It’s the hope of those involved in Soup’s On! that Northside customers will continue to support local restaurants through contact-free purchasing and pick-up. 

To purchase made-from-scratch soup created by some of your favorite restaurants, visit danebuylocal.com/soups-on weekly, Wednesday through Saturday. Soup pickup occurs from 4:30‒6 pm each Tuesday through the end of April at Badger Prairie Needs Network located at 1200 E. Verona Ave. in Verona. Green Cab delivery is available for a nominal fee. 

“In true Madison fashion, we show empathy toward the plight of families, friends, neighbors and local businesses through our words and actions,” said Amy Johnson, Madison Essentials partner and volunteer Soup’s On! committee member. “The Soup’s On! initiative is an expression of community where individuals can directly help local restaurants while enjoying some of the best soups our region has to offer.” 

“I anticipate that Soup’s On! will resume again next autumn,” said Dane Buy Local Executive Director Colin Murray. “Updates will be posted to danebuylocal.com when we have confirmed details.”