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WOW!! The Stone Soup Cafe was a great success!The "Stone Soup Cafe" on Saturday, April 20 2002 was a HUGE success!! Supporters for Michelle Deininger began arriving at New Glarus High School before the doors opened at 4:30 p.m. creating a long line down school's hallway that lasted throughout the evening. Supporters signed a guest book listing their arrival from cities all over (Stevens Point, Oconomowoc, Waupan and Illinois) as they expressed their support for Michelle. Some shared stories of having been cancer survivors themselves, friends of the family, patrons of the Deininger's restaurant in addition to the many whom had simply read Michelle's story in local papers or the Wisconsin State Journal and wanted to offer their support. Betsy Bazur-Leidy, of Madison, explained that she had read Michelle's story in the WSJ to her two daughters, ages 11 and 13, who immediately wrote the date on their calendar and wanted to attend. The family then called up their neighbors and became a group of seven traveling from Madison to show their support. By the 8:00 p.m. closing, over 1,000 supporters had been seated and served by volunteers and New Glarus Student Council. Supporters dined amongst a "country western theme" of red-checked tablecloths, lanterns, cowbow hats, rocking chairs, and shovels while selecting menu choices of bread bowls, nine varieties of soup, salad, desserts and beverages. The food items as well as entertainment of Arnie Alme and the Country Kings were all donated leaving the entire proceeds of over $20,000 to be used in offsetting Michelle's mounting medical costs. As part of the $20,000 raised, over 100 items donated by businesses and resident were auctioned off in a highly successful "silent auction." Gratuities were also collected from the tables as supporters willing opened their hearts and pocketbooks to offer their support. Many have commented since the event that the amount of love felt in the room Saturday had stayed with them throughout the weekend and recreated a sense of goodness in all people. Everyone from the benefit committee to the restaurants, businesses, churches, residents, Student Council, Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, countless volunteers, Arnie Alme and the Country Kings, Deininger family, New Glarus High School and 1,000's of supporters need to applaud themselves on a job well done. Well done my friends - we made a difference in Michelle's life as well as those attending Saturday night. (Please read Michelle's speech to view the difference you have made)
The following is the introduction posted before the event. "The Stone Soup Cafe" - A celebration of support!
Background - The Stone Soup Cafe was held April 20, from 4:30 -8:00 p.m. at New Glarus High School What began as an outreach by neighbor, Connie Baquero of The Briar Patch, has become a heart-warming community effort to help Michelle Deininger in her fight against colon cancer. Connie and her husband, Marc, moved to New Glarus from Naperville, IL three years ago to own and operate The Briar Patch on Second Street. Their business shares "stonewall hill" with the Deiningers and the two families readily became friends. Last July, Connie felt the need to do something to help Michelle's fight not only against cancer but in overcoming the stress felt from Michelle's continuous negotiations between her insurance company and medical providers. She submitted a "letter to the editor" to the Post Messenger and immediately received calls from citizens wanting to help. Yet, due to construction downtown and unknown medical coverage, the benefit for Michelle was put off until this Spring. In January, Connie was joined by a collection of concerned residents who desired to assist Michelle in offsetting her climbing medical expenses. As a group, they decided a "benefit dinner" with a "silent auction" would be a fun way to involve the community while assisting Michelle and began making plans. The following week, Rosemary Hansen presented her theme idea for hosting a "soup and salad benefit" based on varying European Folktales of "Stone Soup." The group became inspired by Rosemary's enthusiasm and were further motivated by the statement from Heather Forest's contemporary version of Stone Soup -- "when each person makes a small contribution, the collective impact will be huge." Thus the idea for the "Stone Soup Cafe" began and is set to debut April 20, from 4:30 -8:00 p.m. at New Glarus High School. Each member excitedly departed to complete their assigned duties in planning the benefit. Some members began making posters, badges and tickets while others contacted businesses, restaurants, churches and individuals in hopes of gaining ideas, support and donations. Their excitement quickly spread throughout the area as every aspect was greeted with enthusiasm and support! Resulting in nothing short of an overall feeling of community and well-being! Menu items and entertainment for the benefit were all graciously donated! All proceeds are then able to go directly to help Michelle offset some of her medical expenses. Donors include soups from Jimmy's Restaurant, New Glarus Bakery, New Glarus Hotel, Chalet Landhaus, Flannery's, Sportsman's, Deininger's, The Glarner Stube, and The Briar Patch; bread bowls from the New Glarus Bakery; dessert and pies from residents and churches in New Glarus; ice cream and milk from New Glarus Dairy; paper products from Alliant Food Service; salad from Roy's Market and residents; root beer and water from General Beverage and Berghoff's Brewery, Gray's Soda from H&M Distributing and entertainment by Arnie Alme & the Country Kings . These businesses were also joined by other businesses and area residents in donating many wonderful items for the "silent auction" going on now through April 20 at The Briar Patch. In addition, Robert's Drugs Store of New Glarus also provided direct assistance to Michelle by donating $200 in prescription drugs to offset her daily medication costs. New Glarus Student Council members will be serving, fourth grade Girl Scouts will bus tables and the Boy Scouts will be assisting in setting up and taking down. All these generous offerings of items, time, talent, money and support shown daily by individuals and businesses remind us of the reality behind the simple story of "Stone Soup" - "when each person makes a small contribution, the collective impact will be huge."
The Event (click on a picture for a larger view)
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Copyright 2002 Jim Salter
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