The “Soup Ladies” of Black Diamond – best known for their dedicated service of feeding first responders like police, firefighters, emergency medical personnel and search and rescue teams – have received the keys to a retired King County Sheriff’s Office all-terrain truck.

The four-wheel-drive vehicle, which was delivered Nov. 12, will assist the Soup Ladies in helping keep first responders nourished during backwoods search and rescues and other types of emergencies related to weather where an all-terrain vehicle will be safer.

“The Soup Ladies are an invaluable volunteer group here in the Pacific Northwest,” said Metropolitan King County Councilman Reagan Dunn, whose council district takes in the southern part of the county.

The Soup Ladies’ next task includes a trip to the New York City region to assist in the recovery from the devastating effects of Superstorm Sandy.