Aviva Valparaiso invites the community to soup tasting fundraiser event for Hilltop Neighborhood House

The community came together for the annual Aviva Valparaiso Soup Tasting event on Wednesday, January 21. This gathering also served as a fundraiser for the Hilltop Neighborhood House, a child care agency in Northwest Indiana.

Tricia Caitlin, sales and marketing manager for Aviva Valparaiso, is thrilled to see this event make a return once again.

“This is the second one that I’ve been a part of since I’ve been here at Aviva Valparaiso,” Caitlin said. “January is National Soup Month. We always like to try and find a twist of how to give back to the community and get people to see what we’re all about. It’s a great cause for the community.”

Attendees had an opportunity to RSVP for the event, or they were able to sign up upon arrival. The event was open to the public and the residential community.

“I think that events like this make it less intimidating for people who might be here down the road,” Caitlin said. “I’m hoping this can show people that we are full of life and supportive of our community.”

People who were participating in the soup tasting were able to try out four different soups, with an opportunity to go back up for more until each pot was empty.

“We have a great kitchen crew,” Caitlin said. “They’re very supportive of the crazy ideas that we have. Today, we’re having white chicken chili, broccoli cheddar, baked potato, and tomato basil. We also have butter crackers and desserts. It’s a $5 donation, but we’ve even had people give more. All that money goes directly to the Hilltop House.”

Alicia Harden, assistant director of the Hilltop Neighborhood House, is thankful to work with a like-minded company in Aviva Valparaiso for this event.

“This is very meaningful for Hilltop, Aviva, and the whole community,” Harden said. “It means that we’re showing up together for the same causes. It’s not necessarily about the food or the fundraiser, but about what it means behind the scenes.”

Every year, Hilltop Neighborhood House has an annual soup event of their own. This year’s event will take place on Tuesday, March 3. Harden considers this gathering to be a fun prelude to their own soup event.

“It gives us a little preview of what our event is going to be like,” Harden said. “It allows people who have never been to those soup events to understand what they can expect at the Hilltop event. It also brings more awareness to the Hilltop House.”

Attendees were able to go up to the Hilltop Neighborhood House table before or after they enjoyed their soup to learn more about what they have to offer. Harden believes the most important thing people should know about their team is how they can meet the needs of anyone who comes to them for help.

“It’s not just a building or a company; it’s a lifeline,” Harden said. “We have a lot of resources that go back into the community. We meet people, and we meet families where they are to help them thrive. It’s not just about the services we provide, the sense of belonging we give to people, or the sense of hope we give to people. It’s also about the sense of stability, so people know where these resources lie and how we can contribute to their daily lives.”

Aviva Valparaiso enjoys this annual tradition. These events help bring something new to their campus, while also providing an opportunity to reconnect with friends or make new ones.

“None of these things can get done for the community without this team,” Caitlin said. “We have everybody pitching in for the residents. Aviva is such a part of the community, and we’re here to help however we can.”

For more information on Aviva Valparaiso, you can visit avivavalparaiso.com.