Almost every Friday since January 2009, Soup’s On has been run at St. Alban’s Church Hall (with the occasional change of venue when the hall is occupied by another event). The drop-in, by donation lunch is held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and is open to anyone who wants to nourish the body with a healthy, hearty lunch and the soul with conversation and friendship.
However, volunteers are needed to help the program carry on, especially in the summer when some of the groups which provide volunteers close down and people go away on holidays, says Kathey Johnson: “It means we have fewer teams on the roster.” She has been with Soup’s On for five years, and took over running the program when Martina Duncan, one of the founders, became ordained and had to step back because of other commitments.
“We worked on the idea for several months,” says Duncan of the venture. “It had been identified as something that would be good for the community, but it wasn’t fully embraced to start.” A community meeting was held and 40 people turned out for it, which convinced Duncan that the project should go ahead.
Lunch consists of hearty, homemade soups—one vegetarian, one with meat—buns, salad, dessert, and beverages (tea, coffee, milk, and juice). Johnson says that an average of 60 to 80 people come each week, with numbers as high as more than 100 people in the winter.
“We serve the needs of the community nutritionally and socially,” says Johnson. “A lot of people look forward to coming and socializing each week.” She adds that it is not just people in Ashcroft and Cache Creek who come to Soup’s On; people regularly travel from Spences Bridge and Clinton to enjoy lunch there.
Soup’s On is completely funded by donations, and is not affiliated with any one group. Johnson says that about six people are needed each Friday from about 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. to set up the hall, prep the food, serve, and then clean up afterward. Volunteers from local churches, organizations such as the Lions Club and the Health Care Auxiliary, the workers at Highland Valley, ad hoc groups of locals, and others all take turns to volunteer each week.
There are, however, other ways to help out, adds Johnson, noting that they are also looking for people to make soups and desserts. “And we look forward to summer, when people can donate fruit and vegetables from their gardens. We’re always looking for donations that can go toward making meals.”
Duncan stresses that Soup’s On is open to everyone, not just those who do not have enough. “We get a mix of people coming to it. People who are new to the community come to meet people, and we also get single people who don’t cook much for themselves, as well as groups who come every Friday. It’s a social outing and a good healthy meal with homemade food. It’s a good experience.”
Johnson says that the volunteers all have a lot of fun: “It’s a really satisfying thing to do. And the feedback from the volunteers is that it’s really rewarding.” Anyone who would like to volunteer at, or donate to, Soup’s On can call Johnson at (250) 453-2434.