Chef Bongo is back in Penticton giving back to the community he is so fond of.

鈥淚鈥檓 here to serve up my grandma鈥檚 famous peanut soup. I want to come back every year to do this,鈥� said Chef Victor Bongo at the Soupateria on Thursday.

Bongo figures by the end of lunch he would serve about 40 to 50 litres of his African peanut soup to those in need that day.

The international chef said food is a way to connect with people. Every soup he makes is made with love, he added.

鈥淲e can save the world one meal at a time.鈥�

Before the pandemic, Bongo opened Bongo鈥檚 Bistro in partnership with Serendipity Winery. He鈥檚 also had other endeavours locally.

鈥淚 love Penticton. When I had my business here I had so much support from the local businesses and the people and so I want to give back to this community,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 all about giving back and you see the volunteers here at the Soupateria 鈥� they are retired, they get up in the early morning to be here. So if they can do it, I can do it and anybody can do it.鈥�

On top of serving his famous soup to those in need on Thursday, Bongo and centre volunteers had made up about 800 bags of the soup for purchase. Partial proceeds from each bag of soup sold go back to the Soupateria.

Soup is available for pick up at the Soupateria on Orchard Avenue until 4 p.m. on Thursday. On Friday, soup can be picked up at Upper Bench Winery from noon to 4 p.m. and includes a free tasting.

To order the soup go to .

The Bongo Foundation is dedicated to feeding the hungry and supporting an orphanage and a school in the Congo.

Soupateria president Rod Strike said he was appreciative of Bongo鈥檚 support of the Soupateria.

The Soupateria has seen an uptick in need for their services. The Soupateria serves lunch to more than 100 people a day, 365 days a year.