The 17th Annual Soup Challenge

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Collage of three people from diverse backgrounds in a kitchen.

St. Leonard's Community Services holds an annual 'Soup Challenge' as our main event/fundraiser of the year. Usually this has restaurants participating, bringing in their signature soups to a big tasting party event where guests vote for their favourites. We raise money and awareness for youth homelessness through donations and ticket sales.

See how your donations are used to help improve the lives of young people here in Brantford.

Last year, because of COVID, we held a virtual cooking class that was watchable on YouTube. We sold tickets and reached out for sponsorship to raise funds. Our staff demonstrated cooking a soup at the commercial kitchen, Our Kitchen Brantford (OKB.)

This was meant to be a bit of a place holder, to keep our tradition going while working around the pandemic restrictions preventing us from holding the traditional in-person gathering. This year, with the uncertainty over Omicron still lingering, we're doing something a little different once again. We are teaching the art of cooking soup to a new generation.

Three young people from our shelter program face off in a cooking competition to make the best soup, aided by mentors from local restaurants, and judged by some of Brantford's top chefs.

You can donate online to help improve the lives of homeless and at-risk youth in Brantford using this online donation form.

You can also tap to donate $2 to the cause at the check out counter at The Grilled Cheese Effect (Paris), Fume Bar and Restaurant, Big Smoke Burger, East Side Mario's, Sobeys and Brantford Finders/Keepers.

The full Soup Challenge video will be released on May 27th, 2022.

Soup Challenge 2022 - Trailer #2

Get another sneak peek of our upcoming 17th annual Soup Challenge as three young people from our shelter program compete in a reality-tv style cook off.

Teaser / Trailer: The 17th Annual Soup Challenge

Young people from our shelter program take over the kitchen. Competing mentors, rival chefs, Scotch bonnets and bacon! The full show is coming on May 27th, 2022. Until then, enjoy this sneak peek.

Soup Challenge 2022 – Spoiler Alert! Is there Bacon in the Soup?

This year, the kids from St. Leonard's Community Services shelter program take over the kitchen for the annual cooking competition, and they dare to ask the forbidden question. Can you put bacon in soup? See the full video on May 27th, 2022.

Make an online donation to help youth facing homelessness in Brantford and Brant here: Donate Now

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Banner with 4 sponsor logos.

Recent Announcements

We want to meet you! We're hiring: Housing Support Counsellors, Justice Support Counsellors, Withdrawal Management Workers, Residential Counsellors, Crisis Counsellors, Registered Practical Nurses. Submit your resume to recruit@soarcs.ca by October 18th! Successful applicants will be invited to our interview day on October 23rd.
This session offers you the chance to hear first-hand from our recruiters about the exciting career opportunity that awaits you. You’ll also get into the details of the recruiting process including the requirements and expectations for applying and how to prepare for each stage. If you’re still not sure and want to know more, this is the presentation for you.
Come to the Haldimand Job Fair! Date: October 17  Time: 3 PM to 6 PM  Location: Caledonia Fairgrounds, 151 Caithness St E
The Brant County Health Unit (BCHU), in collaboration with SOAR Community Services (formerly St. Leonard's Community Services) and REACH Nexus, a research group housed at MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael's Hospital, Unity Health Toronto, is proud to announce the launch of Our Healthbox, a harm reduction vending machine now located at 133 Elgin St. in Brantford.
St. Leonard's Community Services, a trusted not-for-profit organization serving the communities of Brantford, Brant, and Haldimand for over 55 years, is excited to announce its rebranding to SOAR Community Services.
Crisis LIne is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Review our office hours and CD Group Schedule over the holidays.