Healthy Sisters’ Soup and Bean Works

Helping Women go from Dependence to Independence through Soup Making

Soup making is fostering a new life for the women in upstate New York and it is all thanks an amazing non-profit work experience program that I recently learned about called Sisters’ Soup & Bean Works. As a program of the Catholic Family Center's Workforce Development Department, Sisters’ Soup & Bean Works is designed to allow women to change their lives as they go from 'dependence to independence' as they become a part of a soup making company. This includes being involved in all aspects of the business such as the production, quality assurance, marketing and inventory control of the soups. Through this program women in need have the opportunity to "earn steady paycheck, develop self-confidence and learn job skills needed to enter or re-enter the workforce and achieve self-sufficiency," according to the organization.

Rita's Ragin' Cajun Bean Soup

As a soup-based non-profit, the company produces some dips and several soup mixes such as a Six-Bean Organic Bean Soup, a Curried Lentil Soup, an Old-Fashioned Chili, Max’s Tuscan Bean, Golisano’s Bountiful Bean Soup, June's Split Pea Soup, and Rita's Ragin' Cajun Bean Soup, which I had the opportunity to test out. All of the soups mixes contain the beans, various dried herbs and dehydrated vegetables, but require additional ingredients such as onions, garlic, bay leaves, peppers or tomatoes - as in the case of the Ragin' Cajun mix. Since I make soups all the time, it was nice to have a "break" from the rigors of chopping and planning as most of the ingredients were already prepared and packaged. Chopping a few onions and adding salt and pepper felt like a vacation and the result wasn't your typical over-the-counter soup mix. After following a few simple directions, my Healthy Sisters Soup was ready and was loving the rich and flavorful spices that also included some tips on how to make the soup more authentic such as by adding spicy andouille sausage or broth. It tasted fresh and homemade - much like a gourmet soup without having to put a lot of work and effort into it.

Providing delicious-tasting soups, Soup Sisters' is fostering a unique community of soup making and business while also nourishing and supporting women in need.

A collection of soup mixes from the Healthy Sisters’ Soup and Bean Works

All of the soups are available for sale online and at most Wegmans stores in the Northeast.  There are also plans for the soups to be available in NYC at various retailers.

 

To learn more about the Healthy Sisters' Soup and Bean Works, please visit: http://www.healthysisters.org/

Soup Matters: Charities and Community Service Projects with Soup

Soup is not only a comforting meal to share amongst friends and family members but it is also a great way to feed numerous people that are need - while providing them with a delicious, healthy, and nourishing meal. I recently read on What’s Cooking with Kids about Michelle's exciting partnership with Studio 4 Art, a California-based art studio, to help local families that are need by getting the community involved to make a small donation, create art, and enjoy soup. Inspired by this incredible event, I also discovered a few more charities and organizations that focus on feeding soup and meals to those in need. I hope this list inspires you to do more for your community through soup making - it certainly has for me.

Event with Studio 4 Art and What's Cooking With Kids - Image Credit: Studio 4 Art

 1. The Bowls that Keep Feeding - Studio 4 Art and What’s Cooking with Kids recently teamed up for a second annual fundraiser to help feed local families in need. This not only involved eating soup but enabled children in the community to create their own unique soup bowls. Guests simply had to pay a small donation for a hand-thrown bowl that was filled up with a comforting bowl of Vegetarian Butternut Squash, a Vegetarian Chili with Butternut Squash and Black Beans, a Minestrone and a Tortilla Soup. Art plus soup - now, that's a beautiful combination!

Members of the Soup Sisters - Image Credit: Soup Sisters.org

2. Soup Sisters - A non-profit social network based in Canada, Soup Sisters provides a nourishing bowls of soup to women, children and youth that suffer from domestic abuse and family violence. In 2009, the organization expanded and launched Broth Brothers who support homeless youth as they make the transition into mainstream culture. Over the course of the year, Soup Sisters and Broth Brothers serve approximately 150-200 servings of soup. For additional information about this organization, please visit: http://www.soupsisters.org/index.php.

Volunteers at The Bowery Mission - Image Credit: The Bowery Mission

3. The Bowery Mission - A local organization, The Bowery Mission has been serving the community of the Lower East Side since 1879. Last year alone they provided shelter, medical care, clothing, groceries and served over 356,000 meals to those in need. To get involved with any of volunteer programs offered at The Bowery Mission, please visit: http://www.bowery.org/volunteer/

What soup organizations or charities do you belong to?
Seriously Soupy Serena