Zara Brunner hosted a small gathering on Nov. 17, 2014, with a simple goal: bring the moms of students from this school together for a relaxed evening of conversation and homemade soup. What started as a fun experiment quickly became the start of a tradition. That first night gave the group its now-familiar name, “Soup Moms,” and set the tone for what would become an annual event during the first or second week of November.

Today, the group consists of 14 women: founder and host Zara Brunner, Lynn Mehler, Stephanie Balian, Cheryl Miller, Sonja Linn, Shara Blumberg, Sarah Cook, Aimee Kreimer, Erin Kaufman, Jill Fuster, Allison Siegel, Julie Friedman, Rebecca Teague and Heather Eig. All are moms of current students or alumni of this school, and each brings her own recipe.

This year’s lineup of soups brought a blend of returning veterans and exciting rookies. The veterans dishes included French onion, chili, Greek lemon chicken, vegetable, gazpacho, butternut squash, shrimp and sausage gumbo, beef stew, matzo ball and chicken tortilla. The new additions, seafood bisque, beef and barley, and corn chowder offered fresh flavors to the night.

Over the years, Soup Night has evolved into something much deeper than a casual gathering. It has become a tradition built on connection, consistency and the shared history of families who have watched their kids grow up alongside each other. Alumni Kyle Fuster, son of Jill Fuster, realized that without the tradition the group’s children might not be as close as they are today. “It brought us closer and brought our parents closer, adding to why our friend group stayed together so close for over a decade,” Fuster said.

As the night evolved, so has the meaning behind it. The moms include a reflective moment known as ‘circle time,’ a chance to pause, listen and offer support. This conversation encourages honesty and connection, reminding everyone why the group continues to gather. “People need spaces where they feel cared for, and traditions, whatever they are, can create that,” Brunner said.

Although it began with the moms, ‘Soup Night’ has woven itself into the lives of their families. Students look forward to their favorite soups each year and alumni away at college request containers to be saved for future visits. Sophomore Chapin Teague, son of Rebecca Teague, said that his  “favorite soup from soup moms was the chicken tortilla.”

What started as a small festivity marking these moms’  friendship has become something their community recognizes and anticipates. With canned goods and other items donated to the Manna Food Center each year, the tradition extends ‘Soup Night’  beyond the group itself.

The people whose traditions are held with remain most important. Brunner let it be known that “I don’t have family here and I’m not very close with my family. I want to cultivate connection and I think it’s important no matter what people are faced with, it’s important to be intentional about creating something. to fill voids and bring happiness and joy,” Brunner said.

Eleven years later, Soup Night remains a celebration of the bonds formed at this school and the effort it takes to nurture them. The soups may change from year to year, but the purpose stays the same: to gather, to slow down the world, and to stay connected. In a world where traditions can fade quickly, this one continues to warm everyone it touches.