Soup's on for Easterseals

WHEELING — 2025 Best of the Ohio Valley winner Miklas Meat Market is offering a double helping of service this January: It's helping keep the Ohio Valley warm and supporting local children with disabilities through its annual Soup Sale to benefit Easterseals Rehabilitation Center. 

Miklas owner Dave Rotriga and his wife, Laura, last year donated nearly $7,000 to Easterseals from the Soup Sale as well as other employee fundraising efforts. They said they hope to top last year's $6,000 soup sale donation.

Homemade soup is $10 a quart, and varieties include chicken rice, chicken noodle, chili, wedding, vegetable and many more. Different varieties are available each day; call to inquire and/or order, 304-242-8220. The market, located at 58 Carmel Road, is open daily except Wednesdays and Sundays. 

A video on the Miklas Meat Market Facebook page features the reason behind the Rotrigas' support: Their granddaughter, Julia, has received services at Easterseals for over three years. You can view the Facebook video here. Julia, daughter of Jen and James Sayre, receives speech, occupational and physical therapies at the National Road outpatient center, less than a mile from the market. 

"We are thrilled to have the support of the Rotrigas and their loyal customers through this annual Soup Sale. It's the perfect time of year for a hot, delicious bowl of soup, and the soup at Miklas Meat Market is second to none!

"Support from our community helps us fulfill our mission to never turn anyone away for inability to pay. We have helped tens of thousands of children in the Ohio Valley since we were founded nearly 90 years ago. We couldn't do what we do without the community's help," Betsy Bethel-McFarland, Easterseals marketing director, said.