Soup It Up! serves joy and free food to students

Is there anything more enticing to students than the promise of free food? 

Judging by the turnout at Soup It Up!, an initiative hosted by the Sheridan Student Union (SSU), the answer would be a resounding “no.” 

Taking place from October 15-17 across all three Sheridan campuses, this year’s iteration of Soup it Up! saw SSU student staff handing out free soup in near-record numbers. 

According to Danny Connelly, the SSU’s Director of Programming & Events, close to 1,000 bowls were served to students, staff and faculty throughout the event, with a whopping 400 bowls dished out at Sheridan’s Davis Campus alone.  

Numbers, he says, that aren’t too surprising given the event’s mission and history.  

“The main goal of Soup It Up! is to provide a fun and safe environment for our students to enjoy a wholesome bowl of soup during midterm season,” says Connelly. “It’s an opportunity to create a safe space, and I think it’s been really well-received.” 

Launched in 2021, Soup It Up! emerged as a response to the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic to campus life and community wellness that affected so many postsecondary institutions, Sheridan included.  

“We wanted to find a way for students to reconnect after the pandemic and provide them with warm food as a token of appreciation for their hard work during midterms,” explains Connelly.  

Greta Butler, a first-year Bachelor of Animation student, was one of the many students who enjoyed the free food and community vibes available at this year’s event. She appreciates the SSU looking out for students during a stressful time in their lives and looks forward to attending more food-based events in the future.   

“Food really brings people together,” Butler shares. “When people are stressed out and they hear ‘free food,’ it just puts a smile on their face.” 

Just like the delicious broth it serves to happy students, Soup It Up! continues to evolve with the times, incorporating fresh ingredients each year. Last year, for example, the SSU brought in singer-songwriter Eric Bolton to entertain students as they enjoyed their soup. 

Looking ahead, Connelly hints at expanding the concept of the SSU’s food-based initiatives, with plans for a monthly hot breakfast event inspired by the success of Soup It Up! 

“Any opportunity to create an event or an educational experience that works directly with the college is always a home run for everyone,” Connelly adds.

Supporting students who may be struggling with food insecurity remains a focus for the SSU and Sheridan at large, recognizing student success is influenced by their overall well-being, including access to nutritious food.  

“Food really brings people together...When people are stressed out and they hear ‘free food,' it just puts a smile on their face.”

–Greta Butler

In addition to events such as Soup It Up!, the SSU facilitates connections between students and Sheridan staff to discuss available food support options at the college, which in the past have included workshops centred around shopping on a budget, free cooking classes and meal planning seminars open to students throughout the year.  

It’s an ongoing collaboration that Connelly says has helped both parties connect with and assist as many students as possible.   

For more resources and grocery list inspiration, visit the SSU's Food First page.