Alphabet Soup, an early literacy fundraiser, feeds supporters while feeding young minds.
Now in it’s 12th year, the event – which is organized single-handedly by early literacy specialist Sandy Inkster – has raised more than $15,000 to date. All of those funds are used to purchase books for young children (age 0-6) that are distributed for free at various early literacy events like the ever-popular Touch-a-Truck, Muskoka!, Books for Brunch, Fall into Reading, A Bedtime Storytelling Feast, and Family Literacy Fun Days. Inkster gives approximately 400 books away each year.
In the very beginning years, it felt like I wasn’t fulfilling part of my duty. I think every child needs to have a book in their hand, a book to take home, a book that they can say is their own, a book that they can keep going back to over and over again.
Early literacy specialist sandy inkster
Early literacy development is known to be vital but it’s not always perceived to be as urgent as some other needs are, says Inkster, adding that there is some provincial funding for early literacy but it’s limited and there isn’t allocation of funds to purchase books to give to children.
The idea for the event arose from a conversation she had with her sister in BC about a similar event, and Inkster took the idea and tweaked it to work for her here in Muskoka.
In addition to enjoying a yummy meal of appetizers, fresh bread, soup and dessert while knowing they’ve supported a good cause, attendees at Alphabet Soup get to keep the handcrafted bowl their soup was served in. The bowls are donated by local and almost-local potters like Lindgren Pottery, Muskoka Bay Pottery, Dotti Potts Pottery Studio, and Leishman Pottery.
It’s a cause the local food community has gotten behind, as well. Deerhurst Resort, Spencer’s Tall Trees and The Butcher’s Daughters all prepare delicious soup for the evening, and seemingly every grocery store in Muskoka donates food for the appetizers, bread and dessert. Inkster creates the entire menu, save for the soup, herself.
“I can’t say enough about support and donations from the community, from the potters, the chefs and the grocery stores,” says Inkster. “It’s really fantastic. And you’re getting a really great meal, a bowl, and a tax receipt for a portion of the ticket price.”
There are two sittings – at 5 pm and 6:30 pm – on Tuesday, October 25 in the community room at Robinson’s Your Independent Grocer. Tickets are available for $50 at Robinson’s Your Independent Grocer or by calling 705-789-6972. A charitable tax receipt is issued for $25 of the ticket price.
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