CNCM’s Stone Soup fundraiser to support children’s meal, snack programs

East Winnipeg

West Winnipeg

More than 40 local restaurants are bringing their soup game to an annual fundraiser in support of feeding children across Manitoba.

The Child Nutrition Council of Manitoba’s (CNCM) 14th annual Stone Soup fundraiser begins on Monday, March 23 and will run through Sunday, March 29.

Throughout Stone Soup week, participating restaurants create a signature soup and donate $1 from each bowl sold to CNCM. The week-long initiative is held to raise funds and shine a spotlight on school meal and snack programs across the province. According to a release, the council partners with more than 400 school meal and snack programs, collectively supporting nearly 80,000 students daily.

To kick things off, there will be a soup-tasting event on Tuesday, March 24 between 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Rudy’s Eat & Drink (375 Graham Ave.) — the southside entrance of the Manitoba Hydro building, and Hargrave St Market (242 Hargrave St.) — the second floor dining hall. At the event, visitors will have the chance to sample soups made by select participating restaurants. Entry will be by donation.

“It’s about bringing the community together for the greater good and raising awareness about school programs and the needs the students have,” said Clara Birnie, CNCM’s community dietitian and grants manager, adding that more than 40 restaurants had signed up for the fundraiser at press time. “The restaurants are donating their time and their soups to help children in Manitoba have access to food. Some of the restaurants have come back multiple times with a variety of recipes. Some of the soups look amazing.”

Participating restaurants and recipes include Aroma Bistro @ 741 St Mary’s (creamy soy mushroom and pork soup); Black Market Provisions (lemon chicken orzo); Silver Heights Restaurant and Lounge (loaded baked potato); Clementine Café (breakfast ramen); Four Crowns Restaurant (French onion soup); and Rudy’s Eat & Drink (jalapeño popper white chili soup).

Birnie added that there will also be an online 50/50 raffle through Funding Change, which includes five early bird packages — four restaurant gift card packages and a trip to Churchill, Man., and a beluga whale dream tour for two. The draw will take place at 12:30 p.m. on March 27.

The public is invited to use the interactive map and voting page at www.childnutritioncouncil.com/stone-soup to explore the list of participating restaurants and vote for their favourite soup, as the eateries compete to win the best soup award in their region.