Keep the Soup Flowing: Soup-Bank

The Cause

No one deserves to go without food. We take it for granted that we can eat what we want, when we want but that is not everyone’s reality.
Food insecurity is a real problem in our community.
Hunger is a real problem in our community.
And we have the power to change that, one bowl at a time, one ‘hug in a bowl’ at a time. And you, can be part of the solution.

With the onset of the COVID19 Global Pandemic, Soup Sisters cancelled all community soup making events in March 2020. We knew at our core that the soup must go on. We were not deterred from fulfilling our mandate of providing a 'hug in a bowl' to women, children and youth in crisis across Canada. We knew that with increased food inequity during these unprecedented times the comfort and nourishment of fresh soup was needed now more than ever.

We quickly changed our charitable model and began to produce our recipes large scale at a food safe commercial production facility in Edmonton. Our recipes have been specifically developed with the support of food scientists and a Certified Master Chef for optimum nutrition, low sodium, and fresh ingredients. Soup is now being delivered pro bono by VersaCold, (refrigerated trucking company) flash frozen and ready to heat and serve during this time of crisis. Soup Sisters has become a Soup Bank that produces specifically and intentionally for agencies in need and continues to provide a message of 'we care' to Canadians. It is our inherent belief that soup is the universal comfort food, and during these times of economic turmoil we have extended our reach in support of frontline health workers, domestic violence emergency shelters, marginalized seniors, transitional housing for homeless, First Nations, youth in crisis, centres for drug addiction and mental health, and Food Banks.

With the generous support of VersaCold since March 2020 we have been able to deliver 7,340Lbs of soup to local First Nations communities including the Stony Plain Health Agency along with 43,720lbs delivered to 27 shelters in Alberta alone, all helping to address food insecurity and inequity in our province's most vulnerable populations. With the requested financial support from the Field Law Community Fund Program, we look to aid in the monthly donations of soup to agencies specifically in Calgary as this is our largest distribution region nationally.

Who Will it Benefit?

Since 2009 the following shelters were a part of our programming and receiving monthly donations as a result of our community soup making event. Through Soup Sisters 'Keep the Soup Flowing Soup-bank' that began in response to the global pandemic, we continue to support the following shelters each month with several cases of flash-frozen soup each serving over 30 people per case resulting in 38,730 vulnerable and disadvantaged Albertans beings served in the last year.
Highbanks Society (Calgary)
Discovery House (Calgary)
The Doorway (Calgary)
Brenda Strafford Centre (Calgary)
Inn From The Cold (Calgary)
Awo Taan Healing Lodge (Calgary)
Calgary Women's Emergency Shelter (Calgary)
YWCA Mary Dover House (Calgary)
Rowan House (High River AB.)

With the onset of COVID19, we've included the following provincial agencies to those listed above in our emergency food relief program:
Kerby Centre for Seniors
Simon House Recovery Centre
Recovery Acres
Fresh Start Recovery Centre
Calgary Homeless Foundation
The Calgary Dream Centre
Aventa Centre of Excellence for Women with Addictions
Stoney Nation Public Health Agency
Alcove Recovery
Jewish Family Services (Calgary)
Triveri House for Homeless Youth
Circle of Wisdom Elders & Senior Centre
Community Fridge-Calgary
Eden Valley Reserve