CLIO — Goodwill, community fellowship, and the hearty scents of soups cooked with love wafted through the air Saturday at Clio’s Community Center. A now annual event, local resident Eva McRae said the Lord put it on her heart to offer free meals in her community — Ms. McRae is even responsible for Clio’s annual special Thanksgiving dinner, another annual blessing for residents.
“When I lost my husband, I felt so lost I asked God to give me something I could do to give back to Clio — this community has given so much to me,” says McRae. “The people really love it, it’s always well-attended and delicious too.”
McRae says that she is impressed by how much Clio’s Soup Day has grown over the years.
“We prepare for 150 people and usually everything is gone. God gave me this vision, and I feel so blessed to see it grow. I love to see the sense of belonging it brings to the community — fellowship over food is where the heart is.”
Residents Mary Rogers and Mary McCall both praised the event while fellowshipping over a bowl of the free soup.
“This is my first time attending but I love this idea for our little town. I’m having the chicken rice soup but there are also vegetable and taco,” said Rogers.
McCall says she always enjoys seeing the community turn out.
“This is a wonderful project for concerned citizens to put on, and I hope people continue to come. These ladies work so hard to make this a success and it really is wonderful what they are doing,” said McCall.
Also, for the event Campbells Soups and Cascade donated several items for the residents of Clio including palettes of free soup, tissue paper and paper towels.
Clio Councilman Samuel McCollum assisted Cascade representative Calvin McIntyre with handing out pre-bagged soups and paper products during the event.
“It is a real blessing to be a part of this community coming together to help each other,” said McCollum.
Echoing the councilman, McIntyre, who also volunteers with Meals on Wheels in Laurinburg, said he was pleased to be a participant.
“I am glad to be here to support this event. Helping people is what it is all about and I believe in sacrificing my time the way Jesus did — helping the people.”
Volunteering to help serve, Ms. Verda Sullivan praised the event for bringing folks together.
“I love seeing our community, the people, coming together,” said Sullivan.
Mayor Adam Pate took a few minutes from handing out goods and greeting folks as they arrived to share his thoughts on not only Clio’s Soup Day but also on the heart of the woman responsible for the day.
“This was a tradition before I became mayor. It is a really beautiful, special event that brings our community together for fellowship each year. I can’t say enough about Ms. Eva McRae. She truly has a heart of service that all of Clio continues to be blessed by.”