UOIT and Aramark Canada team up for Soul Soup Project

The University of Ontario Institute of Technology’s (UOIT) Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) partnered with food services provider Aramark Canada over the holidays to prepare nearly 200 litres of soup, which will help St. Vincent’s Kitchen assist those in need.

Dubbed the Soul Soup Project, the idea was based on the Soul Soup initiative developed by Street Haven, a Toronto, Ontario-based community service agency that provides shelter, addiction recovery services and training for homeless women.

Dr. Ellen Vogel, Dean, Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) and Joan Laurie, Director, Medical Laboratory Sciences (MLS) program spearheaded UOIT’s version of the project. Planning committee members included: 

• Salma Bham, Clinical Research Assistant, Durham Regional Cancer Centre, Lakeridge Health and UOIT alumna
• Kristin Bullied, Departmental Assistant, FHS
• Joanne Free, Lab Technician, MLS program
• Todd McKinnon, Sous Chef, Aramark
• Mike Wood, Senior Retail Manager, Aramark

McKinnon sourced the produce, which was donated by local supplier Bamfords Produce. He also supervised the group, which included UOIT faculty, staff, one graduate student, one UOIT-Durham College faculty member and two Lakeridge Health staff members. In less than one hour, the volunteers washed, peeled and chopped 65 kg of potatoes, 27 kg of leeks, 23 kg of Spanish onion and 18 kg of celery to make enough soup to feed 720 people. In addition to the soup, the team collected monetary contributions totaling $300 to donate to St. Vincent’s Kitchen in Oshawa, Ontario.

“Thank you to everyone who donated their time, effort and expertise to this worthy cause,” said Dr. Vogel. “This successful and fun-filled event would not have been possible without the partnership of Aramark, the behind-the-scenes teamwork of our planning committee, and our enthusiastic volunteers. To our faculty and staff who chose to make a cash donation to the Soul Soup Project, your generosity is also greatly appreciated.”  

St. Vincent’s Kitchen is a non-profit organization that serves low-cost meals for 150 to 190 people every day, seven days a week. Children eat free, and local churches and organizations buy tickets and distribute them to anyone else who cannot afford to pay $1.50 for the meal.