[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 181 (Thursday, November 2, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5337]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNIZING THE SOUP LADIES

 Mr. RISCH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor Idaho's Ginger 
``Mama'' Passarelli and the Soup Ladies, a nonprofit organization she 
founded to serve first responders fresh meals following Hurricane 
Katrina. Since 2004, the Soup Ladies have served countless meals to 
those responding to tragedies across the country.
  From hurricanes on the East Coast, wildfires across the West, and 
tornadoes in the South, Ginger and the Soup Ladies provide fresh meals 
to first responders, police and fire departments, search and rescue 
teams, and military personnel. Most recently, the Soup Ladies' pink 
trucks and trailers traveled to the southern border, where they cooked 
fresh meals for Border Patrol agents working the frontlines of our 
illegal immigration crisis. When the Soup Ladies are not responding to 
national emergencies, they support emergency personnel and law 
enforcement agents in their local communities. They recognize the 
important sacrifices first responders make to selflessly serve their 
communities and support them as they support us.
  The Soup Ladies now consist of more than 80 volunteers across the 
country and serve countless meals each year. All Soup Ladies are 
certified in crisis management because they meet first responders where 
they are, on the frontlines. When the Soup Ladies answer a call, they 
aim to feed at least 100 people on site within an hour. Their favorite 
recipes include soup, stroganoff, and chicken pot pie for their 
nutritional value and convenience. In addition to recognition by 
communities across the country, the Soup Ladies's honorable work has 
received national attention from Mike Rowe on ``Returning the Favor'' 
and the Today Show.
  Thank you, Mama Passarelli, for your commitment to supporting the 
emergency personnel, search and rescue teams, military personnel, and 
law enforcement officials who selflessly serve and protect our 
citizens. You are truly ``warming the world, one bowl at a 
time.''

                          ____________________