LOCAL SALUTE

Jenny Levison regularly develops new recipes for her five locations. Stirring the Pot

Filling empty tummies

After leaving an acting career, Jenny Levison wanted to go into the hospitality business. During a two-year trip around the world, she collected soup recipes. Many became the basis of her first Souper Jenny on East Andrews in Buckhead. Today, she owns five locations throughout the metropolitan area that also serve sandwiches and salads.

Nearly five years ago, Levison launched The Zadie Project (Yiddish for grandfather), which she named for her father, Jarvin Levison. “He was my inspiration for cooking and gave me my first recipe,” she says. “For every quart of My Dad’s Turkey Chili sold, we donate a quart to local nonprofits and schools. As of April, donations topped 100,000,” Levison says.

My Dad’s Turkey Chili is prepared at the westside location and delivered from August to May to tie in with the school year. Organizations can also make requests during the summer months. “In Georgia, 28.2% of children don’t always know where they’ll find their next meal, and food insecurity among seniors has increased 68% in the last 10 years,” she says.

Levison also developed the Souper Farm, a 1-acre urban farm and learning center at the westside location. “Our goal is to use the produce from our farm for The Zadie Project and our restaurants,” she says. “We also offer classes to teach families about sustainable living and the value of eating fresh foods.”

SOUPER JENNY • Multiple locations souperjennyatl.com • @souperjennyatl

Audrey, Doug and Natalie Herndon make volunteering a family affair at Ronald McDonald House Charities.

A Family Affair Of like minds

While their daughter, Audrey, was growing up, Natalie and Doug Herndon of Buckhead were heavily involved in kids’ charities and passed on the importance of giving back. Once Audrey left for the University of Alabama in 2014, they put their efforts into Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities that provide homes away from home for families who have to travel to get specialized treatment for their children.

The couple has volunteered for seven years and takes on household tasks so the staff can concentrate on their primary jobs. “I man the front desk at the Egleston location, but I’m happy to do whatever is needed, like working with the families in the kitchen, cleaning dryer filters or stocking the pantry,” Natalie says. Doug pitches in at the ARMHC near Scottish Rite and helps with maintenance duties such as restocking toilet paper, reorganizing the storage room and even roof repairs.

When Audrey graduated from college, she followed in their footsteps at the Scottish Rite location where she often takes over the front desk after her mother’s shift. “It’s been fun to see her develop her own volunteer life and enjoy it,” Natalie says.

Named after the famous McDonald’s clown, the first Ronald McDonald House was founded in 1973 in Philadelphia. Today, there are more than 360 programs in 52 countries.

ATLANTA RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES • 404.847.0760 armhc.org • @armch

Earth Angels

Removing barriers to medical care

Angel Flight Soars, a nonprofit that coordinates free air transportation for people with medical needs that can’t be filled in their own area, reached an all-time high in 2021 when a pool of 1,300 volunteer pilots flew 3,700 missions.

“This year we’re on track to top it,” says Executive Director Jeanine Chambers, who took over the helm of the organization in 1999 along with her mother, Bernadette Darnell, director of operations. Each mission takes 15 to 35 interactions with various people involved, and together they’ve coordinated more than 50,000.

Based at DeKalb-Peachtree Airport, the organization also steps in during national disasters. “During COVID-19, one of the biggest challenges was getting test specimens to labs to expedite results,” says Chambers. “Three hundred pilots quickly mobilized and flew to labs in the Southeast seven days a week. We also partner with Be The Match, a global network, to fly bone marrow to transplant patients.”

A volunteer pilot for the last 12 years, Buckhead real estate

The daughter-mother team of Jeanine Chambers and Bernadette Darnell have been directing missions for Angel Flight Soars for 23 years.

developer Bryan Eastman flew critical patients and specimens throughout the pandemic. “We never stopped,” he says. “I was burned when I was 10 making a campfire that got out of control, and I have an affinity for burn patients. One of my favorite passengers was a 3-year old who tripped into a campfire. When a little person is struggling, I’m happy to do anything that takes the burden off families.”

ANGEL FLIGHT SOARS • 770.452.7958 angelflightsoars.org • @angelflightsoars