A group of fast food operators are giving back and warming hearts — and bellies — thanks to an annual campaign. As part of Chick-fil-A’s soup drive, the local franchise donated over 3,100 bowls of soup Wednesday morning to The Salvation Army of Tyler.
“We’re glad that people got out and rallied around this soup drive and we’re really appreciative,” said Capt. Jeremy Walker, corps officer at The Salvation Army. “Last year we fed over 85,000 people through our shelter.”
Tyler Chick-fil-A operators gathered for a presentation to celebrate results of the campaign, which resulted in 3,143 bowls of soup and 384 cookies to The Salvation Army in Tyler. Operators doubled their campaign to “buy one soup, give two,” donating more than ever.
The soup drive was started by the late Ed King over 15 years ago, a tradition that continues today thanks to the current local Chick-fil-A operators. The drive was held earlier this year from Feb. 5-17.
Over 75,000 bowls of soup have been donated throughout the campaign’s existence. The idea is to encourage community involvement through their campaign.
This year Jeff Johnson, operator of the Broadway Crossing store, raised the most during the soup campaign, coming to a total of over $20,000. On Wednesday he was presented with a trophy.
Ikey Eason, operator of Chick-fil-A at Highlands Village, raised over $9,000. North Tyler/Lindale operator Joshua Johnson’s store raised over $10,000 and Broadway Square Mall operator Joseph Wiliams raised over $1,300.
“[It gets] the community engaged and raises awareness for the Salvation Army which is kind of a big deal.,” Eason said. “We think our soup is fantastic. So that’s sort of an easy win for us as well. And we’re all about trying to help out the community where we can.”
This year they donated 3,143 bowls of soup and 384 cookies. The stores raised over $127,000 total, according to Walker.
“We hope that one day there’s no need,” Walker said. “But as long as there is, we have to rely on the good Lord in this community and great partners like Chick-fil-A.”
As a local Chick-fil-A operator, Eason thinks it is important to help The Salvation Army especially because of the communities they help.
“All the things that they do are pretty important,” Eason said. “For a lot of people, it’s a little bit out of sight, out of mind the population that they help serve, but it’s kids and it’s families. That’s something that I think our brand is really allegiant to anything that’s got to do with kids and families. We want to make sure that we can help that.”
In addition to doing the soup drive, the restaurants raise funds. Three years ago, the four participating stores started a kettle challenge. They compete to see who raises the most during the kettle season from November to December.
“[This] does not only help feed more people, but to help house people to help get people out of addiction and in all the programs that we do here,” Walker said of the holiday fundraiser. “We’re just so grateful for that and most importantly to help out with our Christmastime (campaign).”