Local restaurants give food and smiles to Tri-State retirement homes

CINCINNATI — Over 100,000 meals have been delivered to local retirement homes thanks to a network of restaurants in the Tri-State.

The La Soupe Organization has connected restaurants to retirement homes in the area to make sure that senior citizens get a balanced meal.

Emmy Schroder, the director of La Soupe's Community Kitchen program, said their organization delivers between 50 to 150 pounds of unused food to the different restaurants in their network. Once the food is there, the restaurants get creative with what meals to make.

"We let the chefs go at it," Schroder said.

Once the meals are made, people like Kathy Ison-Lind, vice president of affordable living and in-home services for Episcopal Retirement Services, make sure the meals get delivered to seniors in need across the Tri-State. She said restaurants like Mita's have delivered food to her residents at least three times a week.

"COVID was dramatic for our residents because they weren't going to the grocery store, it wasn't safe," Ison-Lind said. "They can't go anywhere. There's no activities. Even our community rooms are closed. It's a visit from a happy face. We're thrilled and delighted to bring them a meal."

If you would like to get involved to help deliver these meals, or if you own a restaurant that would like to help, you can visit the La Soupe Organization here.