Drinking from a firehose

Yes, each person brings something to contribute to at least one of the four types of soups. We brought three-cheese tortellini. My mom contributed onions sauteed in olive oil. Guests could bring whatever ingredient(s) they felt like bringing just so long as the item was already cooked. Bev wanted the soups to be ready pretty much at the same time as her guests' arrival, and waiting for a couple of hours while say, the carrots softened or the chicken cooked would have made for a very long night.