The Raw Carrot, a new program at the Mount Forest United Church, is set for its official launch in September.
The non-profit program aims to hire “people who are on ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program), OW (Ontario Works) or facing mental health challenges (making it) difficult to get any kind of meaningful employment” to make, package and sell gourmet soups.
Managing directors Janice Benson and Brenda Rawlings joined with three initial employees and volunteers earlier this summer to make carrot, chicken noodle, vegetable and sausage and cabbage soup. A notice was put in the church bulletin and on social media and soup sales have been brisk.
“We figured we would cook in June and be ready for September since the summer really isn’t soup weather,” Benson said. “Turns out that the summer is soup season after all.”
She learned about the Raw Carrot program, based at the Paris (Ontario) Presbyterian Church since 2013 and thought it would be a perfect “social enterprise and outreach” for the Mount Forest church.
She and Rawlings are “involved with mental health stuff here in Mount Forest and I thought it would be a great way to expand on that,” she said.
Both women have people in their families who suffer from mental health issues and, as retired teachers, knew of people in town who would benefit not only from socializing but learning skills that could perhaps help them move on to other jobs.
The minister at the United Church provided additional names of people who would benefit from The Raw Carrot and the initial employees were hired.
Start-up grants for capital costs were received from the Kindred Credit Union, the United Church of Canada and Wayfinders of North Wellington and South Grey, a sub-group of Mount Forest HOPE (Health Opportunities Promoting Empowerment) Committee.
“This project sort of morphed from the Wayfinders,” Benson said, adding volunteers came forward without even being asked.
The group held fundraising barbecues at M&M in Mount Forest and also held a bake sale, raising $1,000 toward the start-up costs.
Agilec, Mount Forest, an employment service that helps people and organizations “adapt to change, move forward and succeed,” has also been of great assistance with the Raw Carrot project, the women said.
Beginning next month, employees and volunteers will meet Tuesday mornings at the United Church to make soup and on Wednesday mornings to package and freeze the soup. People will be able to purchase both mornings by going to the back door at the church, and it will also be sold on Thursdays from 5 to 7pm.
“We are hoping when people are late getting home from work they will remember they can buy the soup on the way home and have healthy soup for supper,” said Benson.
The group also plans to have the soup for sale at bazaars and craft sales.
Soup ingredients are purchased locally.
Public health is on board, has approved of the project and done two inspections already.
“We should make enough from the sale of the soup for wages and ingredients,” Benson said. “But we are also a charity so people can make donations to the project for capital costs. We’ve already had some donations and we know that we will need a bigger freezer, for example.”
The frozen gourmet soups will be sold in individual portions for $3.50 each or three for $10, or in a three-cup pouch for $6.50.
People can call 519-314-7579 or email mtforest.rawcoarrot@gmail.com for more information about the Raw Carrot project, or to order soup in advance of picking it up.
