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PUBLISHED ARTICLES

Recent Articles About Sophia’s On Market

SOPHIA'S
Friday, December 18, 2009
BY JEAN DAVIS
For The Patriot-News

At a small restaurant, set off a busy road outside Camp Hill, there's a steady stream of customers who return for a fix of homemade cooking with a gourmet touch.

At the helm of Sophia's on Market is a petite lady who has a flair for food and a big talent for fundraising.

Sophia Nelms is charming and modest. She casually mentions that she is the 2009 woman of the year for the central Pennsylvania chapter of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society because she raised $38,000. She credits the generosity of her customers and the expertise of her friend and campaign manager, Stacie Shenenberger. In the spring, she plans to raise funds to battle multiple sclerosis.
In the past five years, Nelms has carefully carved a niche for herself with the breakfast and lunch crowds. Her restaurant became so popular that she's decided to offer dinner.

The kitchen is now open from 7:00am until 3:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and Saturday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm. Guests are allowed to linger as long as necessary.

he menu is filled with traditional family favorites, such as meat loaf and mashed potatoes, chicken Parmesan, baked ziti, homemade chicken pot pie and salmon cakes.

Or you can order off the lunch menu, which includes pastrami Reuben on rye, grilled vegetable on focaccia and their signature chicken pastina soup. Lunch entrees cost $8-$11.

Nelms said her homemade foods are reasonably priced because she's able to cut corners a little by not offering table service. Diners order up front, and the staffers deliver the food. Drinks are self-serve.

"It's BYOB, so you can come and enjoy a glass of wine and have a wonderful dinner, and our atmosphere is nice," she said. "We have great employees, and you're not dealing with the TVs and all the other things that go on around you, but you can have a real nice dinner here."...

Cookout fundraiser planned
Friday, August 06, 2010
BY JEAN BLAKE DAVIS
For The Patriot-News

Sophia Nelms, owner of Sophia's on Market in Hampden Twp., who was 2009 woman of the year for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's central Pennsylvania chapter for raising $38,000, has committed to raising another $10,000 this year for the nonprofit.

She's hosting a Cookout for the Cure, 5-8 p.m. Monday at her restaurant in The Shoppes of Hampden at 3700 Market St.

The cookout will feature typical picnic fare, live entertainment, games and prizes, a bake sale, a lemonade stand and a beer garden.

Tickets are $25, with 75 percent of the proceeds going to LLS. For children 6-12 years, tickets are $12.50 each, and there's a $1 donation for younger children.
Nelms is accepting donations to be raffled, prizes and items for the bake sale.

The fundraiser is part of LLS' "Light the Night Walk." Participants walk a two-mile route carrying illuminated balloons -- white for survivors, red for supporters and gold for teams walking in memory of someone.

Balloons are $1 and also can be purchased without participating in the walk.
Nelms said she's not asking people to give a lot. "Every little bit helps," she said.

'Because of them'
Friday, September 03, 2010
BY JEAN BLAKE DAVIS
For The Patriot-News

About 150 people gathered in the parking lot at Sophia's on Market in Hampden Twp. for a cookout to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

Margaret Schrantz, who was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma 13 years ago, was smiling because she had just received a report from her doctor that her "blood work is better than ever."

"It's because of them," she said, gesturing toward the crowd, "[that] I'm here."
Shrantz, a Hampden Twp. resident, lived across the country for nine months to be part of a noted research study at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle. She endured two bone-marrow transplants. The experimental treatment was developed using LLS funds.

"I feel better than ever," she said. "As long as I'm doing for others, I feel great."
Raymond Bromley, who lost his mother to cancer, said he decided to be more active with the nonprofit organization a few years ago. He ran a fundraising campaign that earned him the man of the year distinction for the LLS's central Pennsylvania chapter.

He came in second place for the honor in 2006, bringing in $65,000. It was a good year; the winner, Don Martin, collected $110,000. Bromley also is on the board of directors and continues to raise money for the cause.

Michelle Betz, who will be a senior at Shippensburg University, got involved with LLS to honor her godmother and aunt, Colleen Cleary-Myers. Cleary-Myers' leukemia was discovered during routine blood work when she was pregnant, Betz said.

Cleary-Myers was given the option of starting chemotherapy immediately, which would likely harm her baby, or waiting until her child was born. She chose the latter. By then, her leukemia had become acute, Betz said.

Cleary-Myers was treated at Johns Hopkins Oncology Center in Baltimore. Betz said that during treatment, her aunt communicated with her family by Web cam.

The mother lost her battle with cancer when her baby was just 10 months old.

“She had no doubt about what to do,” Betz said of her aunt’s decision to postpone treatment for the safety of her unborn child. “We really admire her for that/”

The picnic was sponsored by Sophia Nelms, owner of Sophia’s On Market, who was woman of the year in 2009. She’s committed to raising another $10,000 this year.

The funds raised at the event will go towards the nonprofit’s annual Light the Night Walk, a national campaign that collected $40 million last year, including $300,000 locally, to fight blood cancers.

Harrisburg Magazine Profile
April 2010

Download article PDF
from April 2010.

Harrisburg Magazine Profile
July 2010

   Sophia Nelms grew up on a strong tradition of providing good food and hospitality to family and friends. She has translated that upbringing into a successful restaurant and bakery at the Shoppes of Hampden in Camp Hill. She prides herself on providing a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes her customers feel welcome as 'one of the family'.
    Sophia has spent here entire career in food service and catering. After years of working for others, she decided it was time to make her own mark in the industry. It all started with the idea of opening a bakery stand, which lead to providing a few offerings of sandwiches made on her fresh baked bread and some homemade soup at lunchtime. As she outgrew the bakery stand, she started looking for more space and room to provide eat-in seating.
   Sophia and her business have continued to grow over the years. They serve breakfast and lunch, Monday – Friday 7 a.m. to 3 p.m and Saturday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Specialty dinner nights, typically held on Saturday evenings, have become immensely popular.
   Today with her staff of dedicated bakers, line-cooks and service personnel, they continue to serve customers fresh baked, from scratch breads and sweets, homemade soups and sauces, made-to-order breakfast and lunch and home cooked dinner entrées.