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What are Stone Soup Moments and how do you know that one has occurred?

The soup created by Bev Webber, a Red Seal trained chef, and served at the Unitarian Church of Calgary community roundtable was corn chowder. But it was actually a Stone Soup.

The Stone Soup story, according to Wikipedia, is an old folk story in which hungry strangers trick (invite?) the local people of a town into sharing their food — an atypical crowd-funding scheme that benefits the group through combining their individual resources.

Margaret Thatcher is quoted as saying, “There is no society; only individuals.” Such a world is drastically represented in the post-apocalyptic story The Road by Cormac McCarthy, in which civilization has devolved to scatterings of isolated or raggedly connected individuals looking primarily and exclusively to their own interests. In the Stone Soup story, the villagers move from this paradigm of poverty experienced in fear and isolation to abundance brought about by sharing and experienced in community.

What unfolded at the Unitarian Church community roundtable was a profound experience of tangible abundance — a Stone Soup moment. As the soup was enjoyed along with homemade bread, the participants shared their gifts, connections and passions.

Janet Melrose offered her expertise in horticultural and community gardening, as well as her connection with local food networks.

Jane Perry offered the gifts of the numerous choirs that rehearse at the Unitarian Church — for new members to join or as entertainment for community gathering and events.

Bev Webber, Pat Hansen and Myrna Schilling, members of the Caring Cooking Connection Group, shared happy memories of cooking together as they prepared frozen meals for people in need.  

And then there was passing mention of the myriad of programs offered by the Unitarian Church, including Movies with Meaning and the Green Sanctuary program that provides environmental education. As Pat Hansen, a new participant at the Unitarian church says, “They don’t have a lot but they do a lot.”

And there was more!

As all these ingredients were added to the pot, there was an extra spice, a special something, as the participants shared their imaginings of what new thing might come to be, the possibilities of their combined generosity.

One idea, which made eyes light up, was the thought of a travelling lunch program, a pay-what-you-can, help-as-you-can lunch program served in rotating church and community spaces in the neighbourhood. This could provide isolated older adults or on-the-edge stay-at-home parents or the underemployed with the opportunity to connect over a bowl of soup. The idea is not that one group will feed another but that people will gather together to feed each other. Is it all about food? Often, yes! Because community connections and belonging seem to be all tied up for human beings around food.

A second possibility for new connection was in the gift of story simply shared, without blame or guilt. Danielle Webber has been hanging out with youth connected to Siksika Family Services down the road and invited that organization to the community roundtable. Janet Water Chief vulnerably shared that they host a Stampede Breakfast every year and no one comes. There was a pause around the table as everyone took a breath and then the brainstorming began;compassionate responses, trying to find ways to create a more robust network around this First Nations community in the city.

How do you know that a Stone Soup Moment has occurred? When people arrive they are reserved, hidden and waiting. When they leave, faces are open, eyes alight and there are smiles and laughter as the group rides the anticipation of together creating more connection.

To make “Stone Soup” in central/N.E. Calgary contact Danielle Webber at dnllwbbr@gmail.com.

This blog was originally posted on the New Scoop website, and appears here with permission.