Soup.
The warm fuzzy feeling of nourishment and warmth soothes the soul with every spoonful.
This is the mission of the Carrier Sekani Family Services Community Linkages Soup Bus Program.
"It just makes you feel good," said Matthew Hill, when talking about his mother's soup. "I grew up with it and people feel good when they eat it. When I tell everyone my mother made it, they just smile and say 'Tell your mom I say thank you.'"
Hill, also known as "the soup guy," makes regular soup deliveries in Prince George four times a week.
"My dad was running the program since 2006," Hill said. "And I started volunteering with him when I was a teen and then I took over. He still mentors and helps me. He instilled in me a responsibility to do things not for reward. And I've been doing this ever since. It just grew on me. A big part of this was compassion and learning to be selfless."
Hill's father, Patrick Coon, was happy to see his son take over the program.
"I wasn't surprised. He has a big heart, always has," Coon said.
The Soup Bus program provides mobile food distribution, support, education and referrals to individuals and families in Prince George.
"A couple years after starting this, I noticed a change and that's when it felt real. It's not to change how people see you, but how you can change people's lives," Hill said. "People come back and tell me when they get a job or go to school and that just feels so good."
Funding for the program is provided by the Urban Aboriginal Working Group and Prince George Nechako Employment and Training Association.
Periodically, the program runs out of funding.
"Back when I was running the program, there was a lot more funding but that isn't the case anymore and the bus can't run full-time," Coon said. "But it still keeps going. It's good to have encouragement from other agencies and especially from the people served."
Coon continues to help his son with grocery purchases and Hill continues to find whatever avenues he can to find funding to keep the soup warm and flowing.
"You learn so much doing this because a lot of people don't understand what homelessness is and what it is all about. All of these people have their own stories," Coon said.
"And a lot of them, even though they are in this situation, still smile."
Hill also sees this as a way to keep his culture alive.
"Most of the clients are aboriginal so part of the Carrier Sekani mandate is to help each other. A big part of the culture is to look after the community. When you fish or hunt, you share what you have with elders and with everyone. You make sure everybody has enough to eat," Hill said.
Today, Hill continues to do all he can in support of his culture as part of his job as a child and youth life skills worker with Carrier Sekani Family Services.
When in operation, the Soup Bus provides food distribution at the Carney Hill Neighbourhood Centre from 4 to 4:30 p.m. on Mondays and Wednesdays and at the Active Support Against Poverty (ASAP) Shelter on Mondays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6 p.m.
"This is so valuable to us," said Audrey Schwartz, director of ASAP.
"Matthew delivers food four nights a week to about 50 people each night just to our facility. This is incredibly important to us."
Back when ASAP first came to be, a kitchen was not in the budget, according to Schwartz.
"It was difficult to feed people and that's especially hard when people come in hungry. We are so grateful to Matthew and the Soup Bus program."
For Hill, it's become a passion.
"I love this. I feel it's my responsibility. Lots of people are just not pulling through and if you can help someone, then you should."
For more information about the Soup Bus program go online to www.csfs.org/services/community-linkages-soup-bus.
