The Lowcountry Soup Challenge Blends Culinary Creativity and Community Caring

Jan. 9, 2014 - PRLog -- Lowcountry residents should mark their calendars for Sunday, Jan. 19, which is when the 22^nd Annual Lowcountry Soup Challenge is scheduled to take place at the Westin Resort & Spa. Known as one of the premier winter events on Hilton Head Island, this year’s Challenge will run from noon until 3 p.m., and is sponsored by Hilton Head Volkswagen, a premier VW dealer serving Savannah (http://www.hiltonheadvolkswagen.com/cities/volkswagen-dealers-savannah/) and the surrounding communities.

Last year, more than 20 chefs participated and nearly 1,000 guests were treated to some extraordinary culinary delights. 2014 will see the addition of two new soup categories — Healthy Soup and Vegan Soup — as chefs will be challenged to create their most dazzlingly flavorful concoctions while keeping the calories and fat content at a minimum.

To complement the addition of these two healthy soup categories to the Lowcountry Soup Challenge, the event will also feature its first-ever Health Walk on the beach. Starting at 11:30 a.m., the Health Walk is a sure way to help build an appetite while also promoting the commitment to healthy living that is one of the major goals of Volunteers in Medicine.

“This is our first event that we’ve sponsored with Volunteers in Medicine,” said Warner Peacock, President & CEO of New River Auto Mall. “We’re looking forward to participating and helping fund such a great organization in our community.”

The first free clinic of its kind, Volunteers in Medicine was founded in 1993. For 20 years now, this group of retired doctors and nurses has volunteered to provide free medical, dental, and mental health care to under-served families and individuals on both Hilton Head and Daufuskie Islands. Vin Medicine Hilton Head Island records more than 30,000 patient visits a year, and is recognized as a model for free clinics throughout the country.

Those interested in learning more about Volunteers in Medicine and the 22^nd Annual Lowcountry Soup Challenge should contact Ginger Allen, Assistant Director of Development, at 843-689-6612 or gallen@vimclinic.org. To volunteer or to find out how to donate, visit the Volunteers in Medicine website (http://www.vimclinic.org/).

The team at Hilton Head Volkswagen hopes that this year’s Lowcountry Soup Challenge will bring in a record crowd to sample the wide varieties of gourmet soups that will be on hand, and to support the necessary work that Volunteers in Medicine is doing for Lowcountry residents in need.

Hilton Head Volkswagen is part of the New River Auto Mall. The New River Auto Mall is a group of 12 dealerships featuring 16 franchises, including Audi, Chrysler, Dodge, Hyundai, Infiniti, Jeep, Jaguar, Land Rover, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Porsche, Ram, Subaru, and Volkswagen. In addition to vehicle sales, the New River Auto Mall features a state-of-the-art Vehicle Remanufacturing Center that provides the complete range of auto body services, along with a vehicle rental service and Allstate Insurance products. The New River Auto Mall is located on Highway 278, 5 miles east of I-95 at exit 8. You can find the mall online at http://www.newriverautomall.com/.