Soup Nazi to visit FeedMore, Flying Squirrels hold canned food drive

Central Virginia’s leading hunger-relief organization hopes the iconic character will bring needed attention to it’s hunger-relief initiatives, and promote a much-needed canned food drive.

April 16, 2013; 7:33 AM • by Nathan Cushing

One of the most iconic characters from the show Seinfeld will be in Richmond, not to scold would-be soup buyers, but to support the efforts of Central Virginia’s key hunger-relief organization.

Larry “the Soup Nazi” Thomas will visit FeedMore‘s Community Kitchen from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM this Friday to prepare chili for the organization’s Kids Cafe. That evening, the Flying Squirrels will hold a canned-food drive for FeedMore at The Diamond during their game with the Reading Fightin’ Phils.

“We’re in desperate need of canned goods,” said Jeff Baldwin, Media and Public Relations Manager for FeedMore. He said that many falsely believe there’s less need for canned goods during the summer months. However, with many students who receive free or discounted lunches at school soon to be home for the summer, alleviating youth hunger will become even more urgent and require even more donations.¹

While politicians like Gov. Bob McDonnell and Rep. Eric Cantor have visited the Community Kitchen, Baldwin says the Soup Nazi’s visit is likely the kitchen’s first true celebrity appearance. “You’d probably be hard-pressed to find someone who didn’t know who the Soup Nazi was,” he said.

While the Soup Nazi’s Community Kitchen appearance is not open to the public, he will appear before the Friday night game during a meet-and-greet from 5:30 – 6:00 PM in the Pre-Game Tailgate Party area of The Diamond. He’ll also sign autographs on the concourse during the game.

Baldwin hopes that the actor’s appearance reminds people of how vital FeedMore and the Community Kitchen is to alleviating hunger in Richmond.

“Our community kitchen does such great work,” Baldwin said of the approximately 1,000 meals produced daily by the kitchen. “Hopefully, the Soup Nazi can bring some attention and shed some light” on it.

The Soup Nazi will appear at FeedMore’s Community Kitchen from 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM on Friday, April 19th. That night, the Flying Squirrels will hold a canned-food drive at The Diamond.