Serving Up Hope: 14th Annual Soup Crawl Raises Over $27,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank

 Soup Crawl Raises Over $27,000 for Second Harvest Food Bank

MUNCIE, IN — On Wednesday afternoon, Tim Pierce and Ben Polk of PrimeTrust Federal Credit Union announced the winners of the 14th annual Soup Crawl and presented a donation check to Sunni Matters and CS Hendershot of Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana. The milestone event raised $27,636.15 this year.

Proceeds from the Soup Crawl contribute directly to Second Harvest Food Bank’s The Big Idea initiative, which aims to break the cycle of generational poverty by uniting schools, families, and resource providers to distribute resources, build connections, and create opportunities for children to chart a path to long-term stability. That is the power of soup, community, and compassion working together!

“Soup Crawl has been a tremendous success in supporting The Big Idea initiative over the years. We’ve seen nearly $230,0000 raised since the inception of the event. It has not only raised critical funds but also increased awareness around food and resource insecurity,” said Bekah Clawson, President and CEO of Second Harvest Food Bank. “We are grateful to everyone who helped make this 14th year of the event a success!”

This year’s October 1st Soup Crawl—held during Muncie’s First Thursday celebration—recognized the outstanding efforts of local restaurants and organizations. The Vickie Copley People’s Choice Award was awarded to  Westminster Village for their Dirty Dr. Pepper Soup. In second place was A Team Party Parlor & Catering with their Cheeseburger Chowdown Soup, while Queer Chocolatier secured third place with their Chocolate Soup Dumplings.

Soup Crawl is a beloved annual tradition where local restaurants, nonprofits, businesses, and individuals compete by serving soup samples at various downtown Muncie locations. Tickets once again sold out, and with 22 vendor participants, this year's event thoroughly showcased the creativity and generosity of the Muncie Area community.

The event’s success was made possible through generous support of community sponsors including eKeeper Systems, Made in Muncie Pottery, Muncie Sanitary District, Sidney Electric, Koorsen Fire & Security, MH Equipment, Ball State Financial, Budget Blinds of Muncie, Element Resources, McKinney & Company, Murray's Jewelers, Polcz Volbrecht Homes at RE/MAX Real Estate Group, Victory Honda of Muncie, and Whitinger & Company.

Proceeds from sponsorships, ticket sales, and on-site donations all contribute to Second Harvest Food Bank’s mission. “Soup Crawl has become a heartwarming tradition in Muncie, bringing the community together over great food and great company,” said Tim Pierce, CEO/President of PrimeTrust FCU. “We are proud to be long-term partners with Second Harvest and excited by the ongoing success of this event.”

In addition to raising funds, this year's event expanded its community impact through a special partnership with the Soup Kitchen of Muncie. As a participating vendor, the Soup Kitchen coordinated efforts to collect and repurpose leftover soup from fellow vendors at the end of the evening. This collaborative initiative helped limit event waste while directly providing nourishing meals to food-insecure individuals in the local community.

Recognized for Community Impact

The day following the event, PrimeTrust Federal Credit Union’s community dedication was honored when the Indiana Credit Union League presented the credit union with the prestigious Dora F. Maxwell Social Responsibility Community Service Award for Soup Crawl. The statewide recognition celebrates credit unions' commitment to social responsibility, community outreach, and ongoing local initiatives like Soup Crawl.

Looking ahead, planning for the 2027 Soup Crawl will mark the event's 15th anniversary. Soup Crawl 2027 will take place on Thursday, October 7^th.

For more information about Soup Crawl, visit the event’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/soupcrawl

About PrimeTrust Federal Credit Union

PrimeTrust Federal Credit Union’s mission is to provide financial advantage to members in a way that promotes their overall quality of life. PrimeTrust is a not-for-profit financial cooperative owned and governed by members. Deposits are used to provide loans to other members, and excess profits are reinvested in better-rates and low- and no-fee services. At PrimeTrust, stories matter. Stories like yours. You have goals for your family and your future, goals that deserve a financial provider who knows more about you than just your credit score. That’s exactly the kind of personal attention you’ll receive at PrimeTrust. As a National Credit Union Association (NCUA) community-charted credit union, PrimeTrust is able to provide membership to any business or person who lives, works, worships, or goes to school in Delaware, Madison, Henry, Hamilton, and Hancock counties.

About Second Harvest Food Bank

Second Harvest Food Bank of East Central Indiana collaborates with around 200 partners in Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, Randolph, and Wabash Counties. The mission of the organization is to provide help for today by ensuring access to food and resources, and hope for tomorrow by addressing the root causes of food insecurity and building pathways to stability and opportunity.