Social work volunteers serve soup during the Soup Per Bowl.

University of Michigan-Flint Social Work students and faculty members teamed up with Flint-area residents last Friday to serve a variety of delicious soups at the Third Annual Soup Per Bowl at St. Michael’s Catholic Church.

The event raised operational and supply funds for the Center for Hope’s Warming Center through Catholic Charities of Shiawassee and Genesee Counties. The Center is utilized by local residents who are homeless or in transition.

UM-Flint Social Work Department recognizes the need to support resources to  help these residents. Metro Community Development reports that 488 individuals were homeless in Genesee County in 2015 on a single night, which includes emergency shelter, transitional housing, and the unsheltered.

Social work student Samantha McCullough, who interns at Odyssey House, greeted visitors at the door. She and other students want to support the Flint homeless community and learn more about them and their life circumstances.

Shani Womack performs during Soup Per Bowl.

“I work with substance abuse clients and many of them are homeless,” she said.

Kim Redmond, vice president of the UM-Flint Social Work Club, said she hoped the event would raise awareness and provide an opportunity for her to connect with students and others who want to help.

“It’s a way to build relationships,” she said. “It’s an opportunity to talk to people who don’t know about the Warming Center and who want to get involved but don’t know how.”

The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting as people enjoyed tasting a variety of delicious soups while listening to inspirational vocals from Shani Womack and mellow guitar music from Justin Niall Scanlon.

Mott Community College student Ellie Allyn won first place for her cheeseburger soup, beating her mom Laurel Allyn who made chicken chili tortilla soup. Both are volunteers at the North End Soup Kitchen.

Ellie and Laurel Allyn

Ellie’s win was quite an accomplishment as her mom had previously won a Good Housekeeping cooking contest for a pork tenderloin recipe. Third place winner in the amateur category was Gloria Waite for  her cream of potato. Professional soup contest winners were Churchill’s for first place, Blackstone’s for second, and Spectacular Spudz for third.

Julia Kearns, of Holly, enjoyed the event with her friends and especially enjoyed the potato and broccoli cheese soups. “It’s been a really delightful soup dinner,” she said.