Soup is more than just a dish. It’s comfort, warmth and solace in every spoonful.
And behind the scenes of these heartwarming bowls lies an unsung team of
heroes: the volunteers of Soup Sisters. These incredible individuals spread across
cities like Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver, Kitchener, and beyond, are the essential
ingredients in a recipe that goes far beyond the kitchen.
No matter the city, Soup Sisters isn’t just about ladling out a warm meal; it’s a
movement that believes in the healing power of this universal comfort food. In
moments of crisis—be it seeking refuge at an abuse shelter or facing the harsh
realities of homelessness—a bowl of nourishing soup becomes more than
sustenance. It’s a tangible reminder that someone cares; someone took the time
to craft a bit of comfort.
But here’s the secret ingredient that makes every batch of soup truly special: the
volunteers themselves. They are as essential to the recipe as the carrots, chicken,
noodles, and spices. Each soup they make carries not just nutrients but intentions
and love stirred in every ladle. It’s this selfless act of kindness that flavours every
spoonful.
Winnipeg can be bone-chilling in the winter, and Harriet, Sandi and Miriam knew
that a hot bowl of soup can be a lifeline in the freezing cold. Three retired
teachers are now the forces behind the Winnipeg location, recruiting more
volunteers and soup-making groups to ensure Willow Place Shelter has the soups
for its clients.
Volunteer Harriett, who single-handedly has delivered more than 300 pounds of
soup to the shelter every month since the pandemic, said, “We hear from former
residents that it’s comforting to get a hug in a bowl. It's not just a saying; they
really mean it!
Miriam added, “Sometimes, we get to know former residents who come out to
the events to share their stories. One lovely young lady considered us like her
mothers! And to think the sharing of love and kindness just started with soup.”
In the beautiful city of Vancouver, there is a bustling kitchen filled with laughter,
clinking utensils, and the aroma of simmering broth. Volunteers are preparing the
labels that will be affixed to each individual container of soup, each with a
message of hope and encouragement to every recipient.
Volunteer Barb started helping 10 years ago when she heard about Soup Sisters
from her sister-in-law. She organized her friends for a soup-making event and
hasn’t looked back since. She says, “There is something that happens when you
are cooking together – the chatting when chopping, the conversations over a
bowl of soup. It’s powerful for our soup-makers and powerful for those receiving
the soup.”
She adds, “Unfortunately, there is a great need in our city. It’s so evident. You can
feel bad, or you can do something even if it’s a small thing. If everyone did a small
thing, the world would be a better place. My contribution may just be a drop in
the bucket, but it’s something.”
The beauty of the events lies not just in the soup they cook but in the connections
they foster. It’s about communities rallying together, sharing stories over
chopping boards, and realizing the power of collective kindness. It’s about
transforming simple ingredients into something that nurtures the body and the
spirit.
In Kitchener/Waterloo, volunteer Sandi knows that “the warmth of soup can
bring up a lot of childhood memories. For both the recipient and the groups
cooking together. That's why it’s so heartwarming.” She was inspired by this
comradery when she attended a Soup Sisters event in Toronto. After that she
started her own in Waterloo and has been organizing events ever since, and
delivering to four local shelters nonstop.
Sandi says, “These places are so busy multitasking to provide for their clients.
When the kitchens receive our hearty soups, they know this is one less expense
they must make, one less thing to do, and then they can focus on the needs of the
clients. It’s simple but means so much to them.” One of the things that sticks with
Sandi is that “some of these young kids on the streets are carrying everything,
including their trauma, from place to place. In the cold. That is hard work, so to be
able to sit and relax with a delicious bowl of soup, then that’s a likely bit of solace
we can provide.”
In Calgary, where Soup Sisters originated 14 years ago, volunteers Lynnie, Robyn
and Carolyn are some of the original volunteers to catch the contagious spirit of
coming together to make soup and care for others. This simple principle of
helping is what has them contributing to this day.
Lynnie says, “I was honoured to be included in that first soup-making event. It
was inspiring and I thought, why stop? It’s an easy way for me to help.”
“Every time I deliver soup, the people are so appreciative, so happy, so sincere.
And I get to be the one to hear that. I feel so proud to represent Soup Sisters.”
Robyn echoes this sentiment: "When I call to say soups on the way, people are so
happy to hear from you. The agencies are so appreciative because they can
provide their clients with fresh, healthy and nutritious meals for much less than
they could have done themselves. And the recipients feel valued when they
receive (the soup). It doesn't take much to feed the body, soul, mind and spirit.”
And it doesn't take much to inspire volunteers to take action. Carolyn explains,
“When I saw the article in City Palate right after the first event, I just picked up
the phone to say what can I do. And here we are today!”
Carolyn continues to be driven by the thought of how clients must feel, adding, “I
think about how rattled someone who has just come into a shelter. They are
expected to fill out forms on an empty stomach. To have some time to relax over
a warm meal - it's why I keep giving.”
From the coast to the prairies to the great lakes, volunteers represent the heart
and soul of Soup Sisters, reminding us of the profound impact of a bit of kindness.
They teach us that a shared meal isn’t just about the food—it’s about nourishing
the soul, fostering empathy, and reminding us of the immense power of human
connection.
Let’s raise our ladles to these and the hundreds of other Soup Sisters volunteers
on this International Day of the Volunteers! Here’s to their relentless efforts in
transforming mere ingredients that a little kindness can simmer into something truly extraordinary!
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