About Us

Stone Soup Corvallis, Inc. is a non-profit, volunteer organization in Corvallis, Oregon providing one full meal each day to any person in need.

Vision: Our vision is a community where no one experiences hunger or food insecurity.

Mission: Stone Soup Corvallis provides free, hot, nutritious meals 365 days a year, no questions asked, in a manner that honors the dignity of each person we serve in our diverse community. We rely on generous volunteers, donors, faith and community groups, and partner agencies to provide essential resources.

Stone Soup began in 1982 at St. Mary's Catholic Church with a free weekly meal. Under the umbrella of St. Mary's, Stone Soup became a member agency of Linn-Benton Food Share. By 1997, community volunteers were serving three meals per week. Westminster House added another meal per week and Beit Am added one meal per month and also supported Christmas dinner each year.  In 2005, First Christian Church became the second full meal site serving three meals per week.  In July 2022, First Congregational United Church of Christ started hosting the Thursday evening meal. Three meals remain at St. Mary's. 

In 2020, with COVID spreading, we added two temporary meal sites (Third Street Commons, Hygiene Center). The Third Street Commons site closed in 2022. We serve meals every day of the week, every day of the year.  See the meal schedule for times and locations.

Non-Discrimination Policy:

View our non-discrimination policy here.

Volunteer helpers preparing meals

In 2013-14, in cooperation with our hosts churches, Stone Soup Corvallis, Inc. evolved into an independent public benefit non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Donations to Stone Soup Corvallis, Inc. are tax-deductible. Our meal schedule has not changed. 

  • In 2020, Stone Soup Corvallis, Inc. served more than 36,000 meals with hundreds of volunteers contributing thousands of hours.

  • In 2021, Stone Soup Corvallis, Inc. served more than 42,000 meals with 334 volunteers contributing more than 8,000 hours at our meal sites.

Our diners come from varied backgrounds. Some are homeless, some have only seasonal work, and some run out of money at the end of the month. Along with a meal, Stone Soup Corvallis, Inc., provides fellowship for the hungry and an opportunity for volunteers, including some former diners, to make a difference in our community. All who work in our kitchens are putting a face on poverty and see people differently because of it.

Feeding the hungry in our community would not be possible without the continued support of our three host churches, St. Mary's, First Christian Church, and First Congregational United Church of Christ, who provide free kitchen and dining facilities, including utilities, at no charge. We thank them for their generosity.  We also have support from other faith communities in Corvallis, Oregon, including Westminster House, Beit Am, First Presbyterian Church, First Christian Church, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Corvallis Mennonite Fellowship, Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Church of the Good Samaritan, First Church of Christ Scientists and Zion Lutheran School. We also thank the many individuals who contribute each year to support Stone Soup, Inc.

Stone Soup Corvallis Inc. is governed by a Board of Directors which presently has eleven members: President Elizabeth Jones, Vice-President Emily Bowling, Secretary Fred Schnell,  Treasurer Jane HuyerDirectors: Melinda Manore, Zack Allen, Rob Kirby, Karen Nibler, Timothy Stover, Inga Zasada, and Sue Schultz.

Background History:

The transformation of Stone Soup into a non-profit tax exempt 501(c)(3) corporation could not have happened without Susan Dunham, Sue Schulz and Susan Mackey. They filed the papers with the State of Oregon, drafted by-laws, recruited board members, negotiated agreements with our hosts, and applied for 501(c)(3) status from the IRS. The Board of Directors first met in August 2013, bylaws were adopted in September, and 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status granted May 2014. Susan Dunham served as first the President of the Board, and continued to serve in various roles until her death in July 2019. Susan was exceptionally skilled at encouraging Stone Soup volunteers, and we miss her presence among us. The vision Susan had and the work she did to establish Stone Soup Corvallis, Inc. goes on. We are forever grateful for her leadership.

Financial Information:

Our budget has increased five fold during the pandemic as we feed more individuals and families to meet the increasing need in our community. Below you can find financial statements including our Form 990s for the years 2019, 2020, 2021.

 

Impact Reports: