Benton House, Nana Organic Team Up For Soup And Chili Fundraiser

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Jan 6, 2014 8:45PM

A scene from last year's packed Chicagoist Soup Kitchen fundraiser at Benton House. (Photo credit: Chicagoist/Chuck Sudo)

Last year Chicagoist teamed up with Martha Bayne and Sheila Sachs from Soup & Bread and a host of local chefs to throw a soup kitchen fundraiser for Benton House, the Brdgeport-based community center whose origins date back to the settlement house era. We wound up packing Benton House’s “Ramova Room” and raised over $2,000 for Benton House's food pantry program.

Of all the neighborhood restaurants and chefs participating there was one glaring omission; popular brunch spot Nana Organic. It wasn’t for a lack of trying, mind you. We just couldn’t navigate the logistics.

Benton House was so impressed by the turnout from last year’s fundraiser they’ve decided to host a series of monthly events to raise money for their food pantry program. They’ve teamed with Nana for a Jan. 16 event where the restaurant will provide all the soups and chilis for sampling in Benton House’s Ramova Room. Other neighborhood bakeries and Benton house supporters are providing breads for the event, as well.

There is a suggested $20 donation and the event runs from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. on the 16th. Other events in the series include a chili and tamales tasting and competition Feb. 13 and a Pi(e) Day-themed event March 14.