The first delivery of hot soup was delivered to 100 Mile House Food Bank on a cold Tuesday in early February 2011, handing out 20 cups of soup to shivering souls standing in line to collect their food hamper.
The Soup de Tour is still going strong.
"We start working at the community kitchen Tuesday mornings making the soup," says volunteer Mary Ann Robertson.
Vegetables are picked up that morning from Safeway, she says, adding the six or seven volunteers have a good time chopping vegetables and getting the soup underway.
An important item given to this program is the ice that the Red Rock Grill donates, says Robertson, to be in compliance with health regulations, soup that is frozen must be cooled down quickly and safely. She adds the donation of ice is important and they are very grateful.
The real story is in the volunteers here, says facilitator Trish Chung.
"This group of women contributes more than 20 hours a week together. They're at the kitchen at 9:30 in the morning having already picked up produce."
Chung adds the volunteers work until 2 to 3 p.m.
Contributions of locally grown, inspected chicken carcasses and soup bones are used for a nourishing broth, she explains.
"Garden produce, real butter and lots of love go into the soup. We sit together with the participants of Cariboo Family Enrichment Centre (CFEC) Community Kitchen program to enjoy the fruits of our labour."
CFEC Community Kitchen rents the space on Tuesday and pays a facilitator, usually Chung. CFEC also provides child-minding for parents with young children. The budget covers ingredients for meals prepared for parents to take home, says Chung.
"It is a community initiative not solely an agency one. Agencies are coming together with community members and local organizations to make it happen. Volunteers are at the heart."
Soup is distributed Monday at the United Church, 49 Dogwood Ave., noon-2 p.m.; the first and third Tuesday at the 100 Mile House Food Bank, 10-11:30 a.m.; the second and fourth Tuesday at Loaves and Fishes Outreach, 10-11:30 a.m.; on Tuesdays at the 100 Mile House & District Women's Centre (women only) at 12:30 p.m.; and on Tuesdays at the Community Kitchen in the Lodge, behind the Red Coach Inn at noon.
For more information, call the CMHA-SC office at 250-395-4883.