Soup & Salad benefit Saturday helps those in need

Now in its 15th year, the Shelton-based nonprofit Love INC (In the Name of Christ) of Mason County last Thanksgiving distributed 271 baskets of food to local families in need and then helped 85 families with food and gifts for Christmas.

One of the group’s biggest annual fundraisers, the Soup & Salad Benefit Concert and Dessert Auction, is at 4:30 p.m. Saturday at Shelton Presbyterian Church, 1430 E. Shelton Springs Road, Shelton.

Attendees can enjoy seven homemade soups, salads, rolls and desserts, and in a live auction, bid on 25 homemade desserts. Three themed baskets will also be auctioned. Local musician Paul Barber will perform worship music on piano and vocals and will sing three songs that audience members can sing along with. Harpists Emily Hademan and her daughter Ellen also will perform. Tickets are $20 and are available by calling 360-462-5683.

Proceeds from the event benefit hundreds of families with clothing, furniture, medical equipment, household goods, blankets, laundry cards, firewood, sleeping bags and some assistance paying bills.

Love INC partners with local 25 churches. Three years ago, the nonprofit moved into its new headquarters at 109 S. 2nd St. in downtown Shelton. Love INC also has an annex a couple blocks away at First Baptist Church at 1234 4th St., where it stores blankets, medical equipment and other goods to donate.

Furniture is stored at a barn on Dearborn Avenue at Harvest Foursquare Church, firewood at the Nazarene Church and hygiene products at the Shelton Seventh-day Adventists Church.

About 80 local entities collaborate with Love INC, said Leanna Shipp, the group’s director of operations. All Mason County residents are eligible to receive goods and services, she said.

Along with seeking hygiene products such as shampoo and diapers, books and other goods, “People come off the street who just want prayers, and to see some compassion … and grace,” Shipp said. She added, “Sometimes our givers are people who were clients … They want to give back,” she said.

Love INC also hosts “transformational” workshops. It refers clients to other local agencies who can help them. The group’s other major fundraiser is an annual golf tournament.

One of the rewards is “just working with the people,” Shipp said. “We just became the representative of Salvation Army for Mason County.”

The agency has many volunteers but can use more, Shipp said. For more information, call the office at 360-426-5683 or go to the office between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday.

“I tell our volunteers we’re lucky we get to see the blessings from God,” Shipp said.