KING COUNTY, Wash. — It's been more than 15 years, but that passion to "fuel" first responders is still going strong for Ginger Passarelli.
From the back of her signature pink truck, Passarelli and her team of volunteers called the "Soup Ladies" travel the state and beyond to serve hot meals to everyone from police to firefighters to search-and-rescue teams.
But getting to some of these areas have gotten more challenging.
One of their two main vehicles is not only getting older but it's also only two-wheel drive.
This made for a scary drive up into the mountains during one of her missions last summer.
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"The truck was fishtailing and there was like a cliff and I was like, 'oh my God, we really need another four-wheel drive truck,'” said Passarelli.
The Maple Valley Rotary answered her prayers.
The group recently started a GoFundMe Page to raise money for a new truck for Passarelli and within days, people donated thousands of dollars.
King County Search and Rescue volunteer Nathan Lorance said he's not surprised to see people stepping up to support a woman, many now refer to as "Mama."
“The Soup Ladies are always there supporting us and this is an awesome opportunity to support them back,” said Lorance.
Last year alone, the Soup Ladies served close to 15,000 hot meals.
And with a new vehicle, Passarelli hopes to feed even more people she calls her "family”
"I love our officers. I love our firefighters. They are wonderful people,” said Passarelli.
To donate please visit gofundme.com Soup Ladies or a mail a check payable to the Maple Valley Rotary Foundation PO Box 1102 Maple Valley, WA 98038. Excess funds will be held for the Soup Ladies Future needs, and the Maple Valley Rotary Foundation to be used in future local projects.
Cox Media Group
