November 1, 2016 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Soup Sisters, the Calgary Food Bank and 7Eleven put a fresh spin on food security

Calgary, AB – Today Soup Sisters CEO and founder Sharon Hapton and Calgary Food Bank CEO James McAra announced an enterprising partnership that will see fresh ready-to-heat Soup Sisters’ soups are available in Calgary Food Bank hampers and at ten local 7Eleven stores.

Starting November 1, Calgary Food Bank clients will receive fresh 1-Litre servings of Soup Sisters’ Hug in a Bowl branded soup with their food hampers. At the same time, a pilot project is being launched where the packaged soups will be available for purchase at ten 7Eleven stores, with 100% of the proceeds returned to Soup Sisters.

Household food insecurity affects 1 in 9 Calgarians, in every neighbourhood and every quadrant of the city. Last year the Calgary Food Bank assisted more than 170,000 families and individuals, 39% being children.

Since 2009 Soup Sisters volunteers have dished up nearly 750,000 servings of homemade soup nationwide to women, children and youth affected by family violence,” says Hapton,” This new partnership allows us to extend our reach to families affected by food insecurity as well.”

“Good quality food should not be out of reach for anyone,” says McAra, “and Soup Sisters is providing us with this incredible opportunity to support our Calgary Food Bank clients with fresh soup, the universal comfort food.”

The 7Eleven partnership is part of Soup Sisters’ MISO program (pronounced mee-so, like the soup) – Money In Soup Out – that encourages donations to keep the soup flowing to the Food Bank and to emergency shelters. It’s an innovative approach designed to enhance the Soup Sisters’ social enterprise as they continue to expand their reach and warm hearts with fresh soup.

“7Eleven is proud to dedicate space within our store, found in our fresh deli cases, to provide a quality product that also helps address a social concern–food insecurity,” says Jeff Monachello, Market Manager. It’s a worthy cause and 7Eleven is proud to play a part.”

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About Soup Sisters

Soup Sisters is a social enterprise founded in Calgary in 2009 by Sharon Hapton. It facilitates community soup-making events to provide women, children and youth the comfort and healing warmth that comes from wholesome, home-made soup. More than 750,000 servings of soup have been provided since its inception in 2009. For more information, or to donate to the MISO program, visit www.soupsisters.org/miso.

For more information:

Lisa Rushka, Principal

Momentum Communications

403-816-1038