Soup Bowl exceeding expectations

By Rob Vogt
What started out as one person’s vision of providing a safe space for people to come together, have a bowl of soup, and enjoy each other’s company has become so much more.
Brenda Halliwell started the Soup Bowl in June, in partnership with the Claresholm Social Centre, and served the first bowl of soup on June 13.
Since then, the Soup Bowl has operated for 16 weeks, served 1,901 bowls, and collected 8,893 pounds of food donations.
Halliwell said word is spreading.
The Soup Bowl is every Tuesday, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and entrance is by donation if people can, but okay if they cannot.
The work is all done by volunteers.
Halliwell said there is a core group of eight or nine volunteers, and they get between eight and 12 volunteers each week.
Sometimes local businesses will serve, or church groups, but often it is individuals.
“It’s just people who want to come out and help,” Halliwell said.
Donations have also come in from all over the community.
“Everybody’s stepping up,” Halliwell said, adding she will put the call out for volunteers, donations or whatever is needed and the Soup Bowl will get it.
There has been a lot of corporate support from the community, as well as the Social Centre providing the venue free of charge.
So far, with donations the Soup Bowl has been able to add three freezers, two fridges, and a variety of items for the kitchen such as a roaster, stainless-steel bowls, and serving ware.
The next purchase will be a steam table that will stay at the social centre.
“We’re trying to give back to the social centre,” Halliwell said.
Cash will also be used to supplement the food, purchasing what is not donated, and assist with events such as the Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners the Soup Bowl will put on.
The Soup Bowl is more than soup too. Meal planning is done based on what food is donated, with a goal of using as much of the food as they can.
If there is extra food after a session of the Soup Bowl, it is taken to the Claresholm food rescue program. They also have a give-away table every week, with donated items that can’t be used.
Her initial vision for the Soup Bowl was simple.
“I wanted people to come together,” she said.
Her goal was to make people feel comfortable being with a group of people, especially after the pandemic created so much isolation.
“I wanted to just get people out and feel comfortable again and feel part of the community,” Halliwell said.
Since then she has seen an evolution at the Soup Bowl. Initially, people would sit, eat and leave. Then they would stay and visit. Now they table hop, going from one to the next talking to everyone.
Halliwell also wanted to alleviate some of the food insecurity issues, noting one in five people have issues of knowing where their next meal will come from.
“That does exist in Claresholm,” she said.
Overall, the Soup Bowl has exceeded expectations.
“It has surpassed our goals,” Halliwell said.
Looking forward, the Soup Bowl wants to continue on. They are also applying for society status, and looking for another full-time volunteer person to come out Tuesdays and fill a leadership role.
Donations are always gratefully accepted. People can bring in food on Tuesdays before the Soup Bowl, or make cash donations by cheque, cash, or gift cards.
Anyone interested in more information or donating can contact Brenda Halliwell at 1-25-668-9841.