The weight of the world feels heavier these days. Every headline and every scroll through social media remind us of hardship, conflict, and struggle. It’s easy to feel powerless—to wonder how one person can possibly make a difference. But the answer is: simple kindness.
Not grand gestures, not world-changing acts. It is just simple human kindness.
It’s in the warmth of a bowl of soup, lovingly prepared and freely given. It’s in the act of chopping, stirring, and simmering with the intention of nourishing someone else. It’s in the moment when you hand that soup to a friend, a neighbour, or a stranger in need—and see the gratitude, the relief, the recognition that someone cares.
This is the very heart of Soup Sisters. Sixteen years ago, I was celebrating a milestone birthday and invited 30 girlfriends to a soup-making birthday party at the Cookbook Company in Calgary. That night we made about 200 litres of soup for Fear is not Love formerly known as the Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter. We didn’t know then just how deeply a simple bowl of homemade soup could touch someone’s heart. When we delivered our first batch, the response was overwhelming. They had never received anything like this, that was so directly and tangibly for the women and children. These women, facing unimaginable hardship, felt seen, valued, and comforted—not just by the nourishment but by the love infused into every spoonful.
From that moment on, kindness rippled outward. From one kitchen to another, from one city to the next, the power of homemade soup spread across the country, warming countless hearts. We grew our community soup-making events to 27 cities across Canada.
But you don’t have to start an organization to make an impact. Your kindness, your personal gesture, has the power to change a life. A warm meal given with compassion tells someone, I see you. I care about you. And in that exchange, something shifts—not just for them, but for you. The world feels a little less overwhelming, a little more connected, a little more hopeful.
I think about this every day when I prepare Jack’s thermos of soup. I know that in handing it to my unhoused neighbour, I’m not just offering a meal—I’m offering a moment of dignity, warmth, and human connection. And while I may be nourishing his body, the truth is, his gratitude nourishes my soul.
This is the spirit of National Soup It Forward Day. On Monday, March 3rd, let’s come together in kitchens across the country to cook, share, and uplift through the universal comfort of soup. Whether you make a pot for a shelter, a neighbour, or a friend in need, know this: kindness, no matter how simple, has the power to change the world—one bowl at a time.
Yours in Soup – Sharon Hapton
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