A show of souport
<p>Sporting clam hats, Michaela Findley, right, and Shawny Le give Diana Bistline a sample of clam chowder Umpqua Bank cooked for the St. Vincent de Paul’s “Souport the End of Homlessness” soup tasting event on Nov. 19, 2015 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Forty-one soups donated were tasted by people who donated money to raise funds for North Idaho warming centers.</p>
COEUR d'ALENE — What's the only thing better than a warm bowl of soup on a cold, winter day?
Getting to sample 40 different soups, all while helping a good cause.
On Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., St. Vincent de Paul will host its seventh annual "Souport the End of Homelessness" lunch at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds. Up to 1,000 people are expected at the event, and those who choose to spend their lunch hour at the fairgrounds will have an opportunity to sample 40 different soups for just $10 — with all of the proceeds going toward funding St. Vincent de Paul's warming shelters.
"When it started seven years ago it was $10 to get in and it's still $10 to get in because we want to include everyone," said Barbara Smalley, development director at St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho. "We like to think of it as a community event. It's fair to say most people really do have caring hearts and want to help people who are struggling during the winter."
Attendees will have a chance to purchase wooden nickels that will allow them to vote on their favorite soup. In addition to the wooden nickel award, Smalley said awards are given for the best-decorated booth, and that a group of local, professional chefs will be selecting their top soup and awarding the winning cooks with the chef's choice award.
"Some of these people take it very seriously," Smalley said about the addition of the chef's choice award.
Along with getting a chance to chat with all of the local soup chefs, Smalley said local celebrities — including multiple mayors — will be on hand to help clear tables.
What really makes the event special, Smalley said, is that 40 businesses, organizations or individuals donate their time and money to create 4 gallons of soup for the event. More than 160 gallons of soup will be served during the event, and Smalley said the variety gives even the pickiest of palates plentiful options.
"When there's 40 of them, there's everything from taco soup to lobster bisque," Smalley said. "There's just about everything imaginable."
Proceeds from the event benefit the St. Vincent de Paul warming centers the organization sets up each year, with one in Post Falls and as many as two in Coeur d'Alene, once the temperature drops to 30 degrees. Smalley said there is always food available at the shelters, which stay open throughout the cold months as a supplement to the organization's traditional, year-round shelters.
"The most vulnerable people are those who are still out there when it gets cold," Smalley said. "They know they need help or they're going to freeze. That's when they come from their cars or the woods and get a place to stay."
Tickets can be purchased at any of the St. Vincent de Paul thrift stores, or at the Help Center, which is located at 201 E. Harrison in Coeur d’Alene. On the day of the event, tickets will also be sold at the door.
"Whether you like soup, or whether you even believe in what we're doing, it's just a really fun day," Smalley said. "You get to come and see friends and neighbors from the community and everyone is just having a nice time."
For more information, or to make donations, contact Smalley at (208) 416-4716 or Barbara@stvincentdepaulcda.org.