During an emergency, you may see police officers, firemen and more than likely, the Soup Ladies.

When Ginger Passarelli volunteered to help in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina in 2005 with the church she attended in Maple Valley, she noticed something odd. All of the emergency response workers were putting in endless hours with just some water and granola bars to help sustain them. That’s when she got the idea.

“I saw there was a need and you sometimes have to do what people need,” Passarelli said.

Passarelli started the Soup Ladies, a group of volunteers who get called during emergencies to help feed all of the helpers and workers. Recently, they fed all of the firemen and helpers after they put out the fire in Puyallup. Since it was a very hot day to begin with, the Soup Ladies made sure to bring cold food items like sandwiches and sport drinks to help hydrate the crew. Everyone was so grateful, Passarelli said.

The Soup Ladies try to have a freezer stocked up with as much food as possible so they will be prepared at any given moment. This week, 300 pounds of meat was being cooked to have ready to go. They try to make high carbohydrate, high protein meals to help sustain all of the workers during difficult, physically demanding times, Passarelli said.

During Hurricane Sandy in 2012, the Soup Ladies were there to help. They can get called at a moment’s notice to help during major disasters. They are a nonprofit organization and depend heavily on donations to be able to travel and help feed all of the workers in an emergency. Most of the time, places need helping hands like the Soup Ladies so lodging and other necessities are provided for them.

During the Lakewood shootings, they were on the scene right after it happened.

“It’s the worst thing that can happen, to have an officer down,” Passarelli said. “It’s absolutely devastating.”

Being able to help in such hard times is what Passereli lives for. She owns Mama Passarelli’s restaurant in Black Diamond and manages to keep up a good business all while helping during emergencies with the Soup Ladies.

“You just do what you have to do,” Passarelli said. “People are very understanding when we get busy or aren’t available (in the restaurant).”

To donate or volunteer with the Soup Ladies, visit their website at www.soupladies.org.