Simply souper

COEUR d’ALENE — Sour pickle soup.

That doesn’t sound appealing, but the creation of the Pickleball Pals found a following during “Souport the End of Homelessness” at the Silver Lake Mall on Thursday.

“It was refreshing and different,” said Pattie Strub.

Husband John Strub nodded in agreement.

“That one really stuck out,” he said.

The Strubs were among more than 600 people who attended the St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho fundraiser. Guests paid $15 to try as many 2-ounce servings of 39 soups created by professional chefs and amateurs alike.

With decorated booths, costumes and even singers stirring about, it was a warm and tasty affair.

Community leaders were selling wooden nickels to be used to cast votes for the People's Choice Soup, which went to the brown butter miso by the Kiwanis Club made by Jenny Larsen with White Cypress Natural Health.

Daft Badger’s pozole soup made by Chad Aga earned the judges' Best Soup award.

Aga was pleased so many liked his spicy beer and cheese soup and the pork pozole.

“I think they’re the best here,” he said. “But I might be a little biased.”

Aga said he wanted to participate in Souport because St. Vincent’s warming shelters “are incredibly important.”

“People would die if they weren’t open,” he said.

Larry Riley, executive director of St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho, said with the cold weather already hitting, they’ve had to open their warming shelter sooner and keep it open longer than expected.

“That drives expenses,” he said.

The payroll to operate the Post Falls shelter runs about $60,000, but if the frigid temperatures continue and doors remain open, it could run as high as $90,000.

“Without events like this we couldn’t generate the money to keep these centers open,” he said.

Riley appreciated the support of the sponsors, volunteers, attendees and the mall. He was delighted with Thursday’s turnout for Souport the End of Homelessness that made its return after being canceled for two years due to COVID-19. It started in 2011.

“A great way to bring the community together to support a common cause,” he said.

The Pickleball Pals of Carol Wegleitner, Carla Redline, Linda Mitchell and Rochelle Wineinger were laughing often as they dished up their aptly named specialty.

Their booth won the best-decorated title.

Wegleitner said sour pickle soup, which includes pickles, potatoes, carrots, celery, sour cream and chicken, comes from Poland, where it’s very popular.

“It doesn’t sound good, but it is,” she said.

Amy Hilliker, executive director of the nonprofit Love in the Name of Christ, made a wild rice soup that she and daughter Kaylie were serving up with smiles.

When they heard about Souport, they wanted to be part of it.

“We love Kootenai County, we love our community, and we love what St. Vincent de Paul does,” she said. “We’re all in.”