Cooking Up Community Impact

Some of the JLC Members who cooked soup for donation to The Doorway
at the Welcome Back Social on Friday, September 7

JLC Actives, Sustainers, spouses and friends joined together Friday, September 7 for a delightfully delicious evening of soup making and socializing at the Highwood Dining Room at SAIT for our Welcome Back Social.  The group of about 30 was divided randomly into five teams and each team sliced, diced, sautéed and stirred until their soups were ready to be ladled into individual serving containers and donated to The Doorway.  Once the work was complete, participants sat down for a delicious dinner of one of the freshly prepared soups, salad and a glass of wine to toast a rewarding and fun evening spent together.

Sharon Hapton, Soup Sisters/
Broth Brothers founder, with their
newly-released cookbook

Soup Sisters/Broth Brothers is a non-profit social enterprise dedicated to providing comfort to women, children and youth through the making, sharing and donating of soup.  Its program provides participants with assistance from respected area chefs, the opportunity to work together in state-of-the-art professional kitchens and most importantly, the sense of gratification that comes from helping others. 

The JLC was privileged to participate on this special evening as Soup Sisters/Broth Brothers celebrated their third anniversary and the launch of their new cookbook.  Founder Sharon Hapton shared the organization’s history and recognized key individuals including their first guest chef Michael Allemeir who was on hand to instruct the JLC soup makers this night as well.  Marilyn Dyck, Executive Director of The Doorway inspired us with her moving description of their work assisting teens and young adults as they transition from street culture into mainstream society. The soup we made will nourish, warm and help fill the empty spaces in their lives both physically and emotionally.  More importantly, it lets these young people know that we care for them and believe in their potential.