Ruhl's Church, 4810 Elizabethtown Road, Manheim, wants to spread love while warming hearts and stomachs. The church will hold a free soup drive-through on Saturday, Jan. 30, from 10 a.m. until noon or until the soup runs out.

This is the first time the church will be holding an event featuring free soup but not the first time the church has offered a drive-through format. The organizers were inspired by a free takeout ham dinner offered during the church's drive-through Nativity in December, said organizer Kris Gray.

"The free ham dinner was so well received that we wanted to offer another free food event to share the love of Jesus with our community," Gray noted. "Homemade soup is a great comfort food and perfect for warming up during these cold days."

The event will feature chicken corn noodle soup. "A family in the church makes the soup using an old church recipe," Gray said.

Refrigerated containers of soup will be distributed to anyone who attends the event and will be delivered directly to cars. "You can drive up to the carport at the church to receive your soup," she explained. "You will not even need to leave your car. Just heat the soup up at home when you are ready to serve it."

The event is first-come, first-served, so no reservations are needed. "There will be different-sized containers, and the portion will be determined by family size," Gray remarked, adding that soup also makes a great donation to a family in need. "If you do not eat soup, then prayerfully consider someone who would be blessed by such a gift during these challenging times."

Gray said organizers hope to hold free soup events on a regular basis. The next one is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 20.