In honor of Emily Griffith’s birthday, students from Emily Griffith Technical College’s Culinary Arts program will be making Beef and Barley soup to-go for students and anyone in the community to enjoy for FREE on Thursday, February 10. The soup will be served outside of Emily’s Café at the main campus located in downtown Denver at 1860 Lincoln St. from 10:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Emily Griffith founded the Opportunity School, which eventually became Emily Griffith Technical College, in 1916 as a school for people of all ages and backgrounds to learn and gain new skills. The school was open 13 hours a day, five days a week in order to accommodate student schedules.
After a student fainted during class one evening, Emily and her sister, Florence, began bringing in soup for students. Emily believed that the student fainted because he was hungry, and if one student was hungry, there were probably others who were, as well.
For years, Emily brought soup for her students daily. “A bowl of soup is served in the basement from 5:30-7:30. Free. This saves you time,” was written on a blackboard inside the entrance of the school.
“We’ve been giving away free soup in honor of Emily’s birthday since I came on board 24 years ago,” says Chef Tim Inzano, instructor of the Culinary Arts program.
Soup is first come, first served. Walk up or drive up. Attendees must wear a mask.