We call on residents, business owners and those who work in Farmville, along with students who attend Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College, to attend and support the second annual Farmville Downtown Partnership (FDP) SOUP event.

The event, slated for Friday, April 7, at the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA), is one that will result in the reaping of projects that will directly benefit downtown Farmville and those who shop, visit, eat, work and spend time here.

During last year’s event, about 150 people attended, according to a press release from the FDP. This year, it’s our hope that number will be much, much larger.

FDP leaders and event organizers are vetting submitted projects. Five of them will be presented for consideration, being voted on by those in attendance.

“Each presenter will have four minutes to share their idea with the community,” officials said in the press release. “Audience members can then ask each presenter a few questions. After the presentations, the community will place their votes and enjoy soup, bread and good company while the results are tallied with the winner of the $1,000 grant announced at the end of the evening.”

A $5 donation at the door will help fund the winning projects.

Supporting downtown Farmville is as easy as showing up at the LCVA, handing volunteers a $5 bill, meeting up with friends, eating soup and bread, listening to a few presentations and deciding which you like best.