A Warm Bowl, A Gentle Moment: How Soup Sisters and Alpha House Meet People Where They Are

The nights are cold and dark, and when the chill sets in,  Alpha House Society's Outreach Teams are there to bring the warmth of soup. Entering the shelter, still hunched over from the harsh elements, being offered a meal that tastes like home can ease the transition from the streets.  

These relationships start quietly then helping someone who has gone too long without a good meal feel seen and cared for, it becomes something deeper, a partnership rooted in care, respect, and the simple power of good food. That is the story of Alpha House Society - a place where people arrive tired, cold, and carrying more than most of us will ever know.

Alpha House supports Calgarians whose lives have been shaped by addiction, homelessness, and crisis. Every month, nearly 1,230 people enter their emergency shelter, and 1,745 street-involved individuals connect with their outreach teams[SB1] . These are neighbours who are often making impossible choices, not because of a lack of will, but because their circumstances have stripped away options.

As Shaundra Bruvall from Alpha House shared, their work spans a full continuum of care, from shelter and detox to long-term housing with intensive supports, and outreach programs that transport people off the streets and into services. The needs are complex, and resources are stretched. This is where soup becomes more than food.

For Alpha House, Soup Sisters' soup lands right where it's needed most. Over the past two years, donations from Soup Sisters soup-making events have provided 9,600 servings a year to Alpha House clients.

These soups go into outreach backpacks headed to those rough sleeping. They're served at the Shelter to people who have spent too many nights surviving on the streets. They are sent into housing programs where residents are slowly rebuilding stability.

Shaundra describes good food as a turning point. When staff approach vulnerable people with a warm, hearty soup, it becomes an opening. A conversation. A moment to build trust and guide someone toward detox, medical care, or housing supports. "Our clients benefit enormously from nutritious, warm meals, and soup is the best of them".

One of the most touching reflections came from residents at Aurora, one of Alpha House's housing programs. Residents said things like: "This soup tastes just like home…I haven't had soup this good in years … It reminded me of my grandmother's cooking." Staff told us the soups sparked conversation and fostered a sense of care that extended beyond the meal.

For someone living with addiction or chronic homelessness, the day is often about survival. Food insecurity is the norm, not the exception. As Shaundra shared, many clients struggle to access healthy, consistent meals. But when the body is fed, people can feel better about themselves. With that comes a bit of strength, a bit of resiliency, and often the courage to take the next step toward support.

This is why Soup Sisters believes that good food is a human right and that everything starts with proper nourishment. Each bowl is crafted with intention, made with fresh ingredients and balanced nutrition, and delivered as a message of comfort and care.

Soup Sisters is honoured to stand beside Alpha House, knowing our soups help staff do their work with compassion, efficiency, and dignity. We also know one bowl won't change the world, but it can steady someone for a moment and keep hope within reach.

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Soup Sisters soup-making events have provided 9,600 servings a year to Alpha House clients.