Such a simple thing, soup.

But if you're looking for a recipe for making a difference, consider the fare served up by the Soup Ladies of Maple Valley.

Call it soup that feeds the spirit as well as the body -- and count members of the Army among its grateful recipients.

About eight years ago, Ginger Passarelli, a member of Real Life Church in Maple Valley, began serving soup to the congregation after services. Then a December 2003 storm tore through the area, toppling trees and power lines. Lack of power the following Sunday meant the congregation couldn't use Rock Hill Elementary, where it meets for services.

So the congregation picked up chain saws and joined other volunteers to clean up felled trees and debris. Meanwhile, Passarelli and others gathered in the parking lot, set up barbecues and served soup. Afterward, they took the leftovers, drove through the community and stopped at homes to offer a warm meal.

That day, Passarelli met Diane Tate, a woman of similar mind when it comes to soup, and a small corps of volunteers gathered around them wherever gallons of soup were needed.

The soup group dubbed themselves the "Soup Ladies of Maple Valley," although their culinary mission has since extended beyond that South King County community.

Four weeks after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, Passarelli, who owns Mama Passarelli's Dinner House in Black Diamond, traveled south to help -- and found herself cooking on a beach at Pass Christian, Miss. Since then, she's been there six times. Other Soup Ladies have traveled to join her.

They've also responded to local disasters. Among them: A fire in downtown Kent that destroyed several buildings in the business district.

"We got called to feed the firefighters," she says.

In December 2006, just days before Christmas, Passarelli was watching the news when she learned a Blackhawk helicopter had crashed during a training mission near Enumclaw.

A call came asking if she could provide soup for searchers. She could -- and did.

For two weeks, volunteer Soup Ladies worked out of the 4-H kitchen at the King County fairgrounds turning out meals for members of the military and King County Search and Rescue volunteers.

Three soldiers died in the crash.

Last week, Lt. Col. J.T. Jamison, commander of the squadron the helicopter crew was from, showed up at Passarelli's restaurant with a plaque to express his appreciation to the Soup Ladies.

The Soup Ladies' contribution of hot meals "provided a lift to our spirits during this time. We are grateful for your kindness and hospitality. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts," the plaque read.

"You can imagine how much we were touched," Passarelli says. "And all we did was make their meals."

Though pleased that what they'd done meant so much, she hardly was surprised.

After all, she's been watching food -- especially soup -- build community connections for years.

The Soup Ladies, whose efforts have long been funded by donations -- often their own -- have started the legal process to become a recognized 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization.

"Our goal is to have a mobile kitchen we can use not only for community events, but also for disaster response," she says.

As for the Soup Ladies, there are similar groups popping up in other communities.

"This thing is spreading like a rash," said Passarelli, clearly pleased. "We Soup Ladies, what we do is feed people. But we also hope that there's some comfort in it."

Such a simple thing, soup.

CONTACT INFO

To find out more about the Soup Ladies, contact Ginger Passarelli at mamapassarelli@msn.com.