Clear Path for Veterans Soup Wars fundraiser beneficiary

LEOMINSTER — Things are heating up in the city with the return of the annual Leominster Eagle Riders Soup Wars fundraiser.

The battle takes place this Sunday, March 1st at noon the Leominster Eagles, 456 Litchfield St. Cooks pay an entrance fee of $10 per soup or chowder they want to enter and receive five voting tickets, and the entrance fee for adults is $10 and $5 for kids seven and under who want to be taste testers and each person gets two voting tickets.

There are three categories of prizes – the Chef’s Award, which is one grand prize winner, and three winners each of the Judge’s Award and People’s Choice Award. All proceeds this year will benefit Clear Path for Veterans New England out of Devens. Leominster Eagle Riders Vice President Dave Amons said the money will be going towards the nonprofit organization’s renovation of a former nunnery on Church St. that will be homeless veteran housing.

Amons reported that Soup Wars guests judges will include Il Forno owner Mike Mohamed, Chef Bill Brady of Brady’s, Craig Long from the Leominster Fire Department, Chef Marcus DiNardo from the former Lidios’s Restaurant & Lounge, Mayor Dean Mazzarella, and representatives from Clear Path.

“We have been doing this a while,” Amons said ahead of last year’s event of the motorcycle enthusiasts group that does charity work on behalf of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, which has enabled them to provide generous donations to many local organizations over the years, including North Star Family Services in Leominster and the Leominster Veterans Center.

Clear Path for Veterans New England Housing Project Officer Jay Hartmann said they are thrilled to be the beneficiaries this year.

“Clear Path for Veterans New England is honored and excited to participate in Soup Wars,” said the retired Army soldier. “Our mission is to support Veterans in Leominster and surrounding communities as they work toward stable housing.

“We are deeply grateful for partnerships like the Leominster Eagles, whose generosity helps sustain our programs and strengthens our shared commitment to ending Veteran homelessness,” he said. “Whether you compete, taste, cheer, or just come hungry, it’s a great way to spend a winter Sunday supporting our mission to end veteran homelessness.”