The Growing Impact of an End-of-Month Food Program

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree John Das. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light. 

Every third Saturday of the month, Cleveland resident Dr. John Das gathers with volunteers in the parking lot and hall at St. John’s Church. There, they transform the scene into a hub of nourishment and care for their neighbors. John, a local physician spends roughly three hours each session immersing himself in the hands-on logistics of Soup’s On, a staple community feeding program in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. From the initial setup to the final sweep of cleanup, he lifts boxes, sets up and tears down directional signage, and loads surplus donations to ensure nothing goes to waste.  

Established in 1986, Soup’s On was created to fill a specific, critical gap: those lean days toward the end of the month when tight household budgets might run dry. What began 40 years ago as a modest effort serving just 25 individuals has blossomed. Today, utilizing a hybrid drive-through and walk-in model, the program serves between 150 and 230 hot meals during a single session. Thanks to enduring partnerships with local grocery stores, churches, and charities, community members leave not just with a warm dinner, but with essential groceries, meat, and household supplies worth thousands of dollars. 

John helps create a vibrant environment of hospitality, dignity, and mutual respect where vulnerable neighbors feel seen rather than marginalized. Any remaining food is carefully packed into his vehicle and delivered to nearby shelters, extending the program’s reach even further into the community. Through this selfless, recurring dedication, John truly exemplifies a willingness to serve. Read on to hear more of his inspiring story. 

Tell us about your volunteer role and organization. 

The organization is called Soup’s On. It provides warm meals, food products, and other supplies to local families. They have a drive-through where people can come in and request the number of hot meals they want. They can also request a bag of additional food products, like donuts and other things like that. I might help bring bags or hot meals out to the cars, or cart the meals to wherever they’re ready to distribute. I may help ask the people if they want chips or pretzels and help load those items up. There’s a drive-through where different volunteers move in and hand items to the people who are coming in that way. 

What inspired you to get started with this initiative? 

I got started because I wanted to volunteer, get involved and help underserved people in my area. I looked up opportunities to get involved, and this was a way I found that could help.  

Why is food security so important? 

It’s important for people to have reliable access to nutritious food to live healthy lives. In addition to helping with health, it helps people to be more economically productive, it helps children with academic performance, and it helps with human dignity and the quality of life. Access to food is a basic human need, and it allows people not to be able to worry about their next meal. Instead, they can focus on education, work, family, and community.  

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer? 

Teamwork can help accomplish major issues, like food security. At Soup’s On, each individual volunteering has an important part, but with everyone showing up — some people cooking the meals, some taking the meals to the car, some talking to the people — everyone coming together helps the ministry function as a whole. 

There are some people who arrive and they like when people talk to them and listen to them. I’ve learned that sometimes the way to make someone have a smile on their face is just to talk and listen to them. A lot of the people that come through, I’ll spend some time talking to. The power of the human connection and a respectful interaction can be just as meaningful as the meal itself. 

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work? 

The most rewarding part is to see people go home and have a nutritious meal for themselves and their family. As someone who likes food myself, it makes me happy! It’s nice to be able to provide a meal for someone else, and I know that it makes a difference. 

Why is it important for others to get involved with causes they care about? 

It allows people to turn their values into action. Caring about a problem is important, but volunteering gives people an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of others while strengthening their communities. It’s nice to be able to read up on an issue and be aware of it, but actually volunteering helps you be the change. 

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering? 

I would say to start with a cause that genuinely matters to you, and be willing to start small. You don’t need special skills or experience; sometimes you just need to show up, and you can play a small part to make a big difference. You shouldn’t underestimate the impact — a meal served, a box packed, or a conversation shared can be incredibly meaningful to someone else. You don’t need special qualifications, endless free time, or a perfect plan. If you find a cause that speaks to you, show up and be willing to help. You can make a difference. 

What do you want people to learn from your story? 

Some of the most important contributions are made slowly and faithfully over time. This ministry started years ago, and decades of people showing up, building relationships, and organizing led to continued success and service. Volunteers continue the work started by those before them. 

And remember that food insecurity can affect working families, seniors on fixed incomes, people with disabilities, college students, and individuals who are facing unexpected medical bills or financial hardships. It can happen to anyone. Hunger is often linked to rising costs of living, limited access to affordable food, and transportation barriers, so community support is needed, and programs like Soup’s On can really help with that. 

Do you want to make a difference in your community like John? Find local volunteer opportunities.