Laurel 'Soup Social' a gift, says founder
By Tony E. Windsor
It is 5:45 p.m. on a Tuesday evening and Dave Elzey is standing in the basement kitchen of the Christ U.M. Church, dish towel dangling from his back pocket and a big smile on his face. It is the time of week that he most looks forward to; it is the "Soup Social." The weekly free "Soup Social" is a mission of love developed in Elzey's heart about nine months ago while recuperating from serious neck surgery. Elzey said the concept came about at a time when he was reflecting on his life and experienced what he feels was an epiphany. In 2008 Elzey began experiencing numbness and pain in his right arm and hand. He was diagnosed with ruptured vertebrae in his neck. He was informed that surgery was the only response to the situation. So, in December he was admitted to Christiana Care in New Castle and surgery was performed on Dec. 23. Doctors were forced to enter through Elzey's throat to access the vertebrae of his neck that needed to be repaired and rebuilt. "They used cadaver bones to replace the deteriorated vertebrae that had to be rebuilt," Elzey said. Elzey responded to what was a very serious and debilitating surgery by defying the odds and pushing himself to a speedy recovery. He was out of surgery and within a few hours was dragging an IV tube around the halls of the hospital, handing out Christmas candy canes. He was sent home in time for Christmas and made sure he did not miss an annual tradition around the Elzey home. "Every year I would cook Christmas breakfast for my family," he said. "I made it clear to the doctors that I had to be home to cook breakfast on Christmas morning." As dictated, Elzey was home and was cooking Christmas breakfast for his family. What followed was intense therapy three times a week and lost of down time. "I had time to read and reflect and I began praying. God put it on my heart that the time had come when I needed to do more with my life in terms of helping other people," he said. "The mission of providing food for people in need became a real passion in my heart." So, Elzey began calling the state agencies responsible for developing quality food service programs and also made contact with Dale Dunning, who operates "Just Soup" programs and assists soup kitchens throughout the area with developing programs to feed the needy. Elzey did his research and knew what he was talking about when he approached the Christ U.M. Church Council with his idea. In February the church supported the project and within four weeks the "Soup Social" was up and running from the church basement. Elzey literally went door to door promoting the Soup Social, hanging flyers in the widows of any stores and social service agencies that would allow it. He made contact with Food Lion and received the stores support through weekly donations of breads and other food items that were set to expire within a few days. On Tuesday evening more than 40 people were seated in the basement of Christ U.M. Church, enjoying a hot meal prepared by Elzey and his volunteer kitchen crew.
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Just prior to serving the food Elzey opens his Bible and reads scripture while sharing a Christian message of inspiration. At the close of his message Elzey begins singing a hymn and everyone joins in, filling the room with canella music. Elzey makes it clear that the Soup Social is a "gift from God." He said that he has never been happier doing anything in his life. "I love what I am doing here," he said. "Helping people is so rewarding. We are able to feed people, but I also visit with people and find out their needs and then contact different agencies and other resources to get them food, housing, clothing, whatever they are in need of. I absolutely love doing this." Recently, Elzey and some of his volunteers were able to assist a family that had lost their home and were living in their car. After making calls and seeking support for the various needs of the family, Elzey's church group was able to find an apartment, furnishings, clothing and gas for their vehicle. Elzey said the weekly Soup Social has become a gathering place for friends. "We are like a family here," he said. "When one person is hurting, everybody hurts. Everyone asks about one another and is concerned when they are ill or have a need. The Lord has truly used this food ministry to touch the lives of so many people, including me." Elzey said in the nine months that he has been running the Soup Social; there has never been a shortage of food, never been a sign-up sheet and never been a time when he did not have volunteers willing to help prepare and/or serve the food. "The Lord is in the midst of this and he provides. I believe that God made it clear that if we provide this opportunity, the people will be there; and they have." Not only has the Soup Kitchen provide weekly meals to as many as 50 people in the basement of the church, Elzey has also been able to regularly deliver soup and bread to the elderly and those with health issues that prevent them from coming to the social. Elzey and his wife, Beth, members of Christ U.M. Church reside in Laurel. He admits that his wife has been a member of the church longer than he has. "Beth went to church and I would stay home and watch the football game," he said smiling. "That is the way it was, but it wasn't long before the Lord got a hold of me, and it is the best thing that has ever happened to me." Elzey, store manager of Sears in the Seaford Village Shopping Center, Seaford, said he was asked recently by the church to be a Lay Leader. Honored, but concerned about his busy schedule at work and with the Soup Kitchen ministry, Elzey conferred with his wife and they will now handle the duties of Lay Leader as a team. The weekly Soup Social has been deemed by the church as it's "Crown Jewel of Missions" and Elzey appreciates the support he has been given by the church and its members. Mostly, Dave Elzey is appreciative to the Lord for what he calls a wonderful gift. "This is the Lord's project and I just follow His guidance. I love it more every day," he said. The weekly Soup Social is open to anyone and is free. It begins each Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. and is located at the Christ U.M. Church on Central Avenue, Laurel.
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