Listen: Souper Jenny’s nonprofit takes feeding Atlanta’s hungry to a new level

November 30, 2018 Atlanta - Amanda Marmins, a volunteer at Souper Jenny, finishes the preparation for one box of soup that will help feed kids in the metro area. RYON HORNE / RHORNE@AJC.COM

November 30, 2018 Atlanta - Amanda Marmins, a volunteer at Souper Jenny, finishes the preparation for one box of soup that will help feed kids in the metro area. RYON HORNE / RHORNE@AJC.COM

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An hour before Souper Jenny’s wildly popular Westside location opened its doors one recent Tuesday, employees were inside busily preparing tomato soup.

But they weren’t just making it for the many customers who would soon fill the restaurant, forming a line leading to the register. Staff and a couple volunteers were also packaging the food to donate to hungry children and seniors in Atlanta.

Souper Jenny has gained something of a cult-following since opening nearly 20 years ago, with its beloved turkey chili and rotating seasonal offerings such as gazpacho, sandwiches and salads. Today, owner Jenny Levison operates four of the cafes — along with the Westside spot, ones exist in Brookhaven, Buckhead and Decatur — and another is coming soon to Roswell. The name is very familiar to many, but Levison's two-year-old nonprofit, The Zadie Project, is lesser known.

November 30, 2018 Atlanta - Souper Jenny owner Jenny Levison at her Westside location. RYON HORNE / RHORNE@AJC.COM

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The nonprofit goes beyond serving the immediate need of the community with homemade soup. It also works to educate people about urban farming and healthy food preparations, much of which is done on the one-acre farm behind the Westside location.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution recently stopped by to find out more about The Zadie Project.

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