Volunteers with several chapters of the Beta Sigma Phi sorority will be offering a hot and fresh alternative to takeout or leftovers for lunch Wednesday afternoon.

The sorority will be hosting its annual Valentine’s Soup Luncheon from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. inside the First United Methodist Church on Lowe Street. Alongside sides like homemade rolls and veggie sticks, sisters with Xi Delta Mu chapter will be serving cheesy potato, chicken noodle and beef and barley soups for hungry visitors, while volunteers with Kappa Beta will be baking homemade desserts to give the meal a sweet finish.

As in previous years, proceeds from the lunch will go toward Fitch Camp, Dowagiac’s longstanding day camp which charges only a dollar a day for kids to attend every summer.

“The luncheon allows people to remember the days when they attended the camp as kids,” said organizer Janet Feick. “For them, it’s not just the soup, it’s the memories.”

First started by the Alpha Upsilon Master Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi, Xi Delta Mu took over the responsibility of running the luncheon three years ago, though sisters with the founding chapter continue to help out, Feick said.

Last year, the sorority raised over $1,000 for the camp, with more than 100 people stopping by the church to enjoy a bowl of soup
that afternoon.

“Some come by just to leave a donation,” Feick said. “In years past, we’ve even had people leave an additional donation, paying for the meal for the person in line next to them. It always draws a generous response from the community.”

Even local businesses like Wolverine Mutual Insurance have helped out in the past, leaving large donations for the sorority to give back to the day camp, Feick said.

For her, helping to fund the programming and activities offered at the 74-year-old campgrounds is personally important, as both her siblings and children all benefitted from their summer days spent at the camp, she said.

“Fitch Camp is a tremendous asset, and we’ll do anything we can to help keep it going,” Feick said. “Not many communities can say they have something like it.”

The cost for a meal is $5. Carry out is available by calling (574) 256-8629, with staff preparing a full lunch for pick-up.

In case of inclement weather, the event will be Thursday at the same time and location.