Soup’s On founder receives award from Governor General

The Soup’s On founder has received a medal from the Governor General last week for her work in feeding the hungry.

Joy Neufeld was awarded the Meritorious Service Decorations (Civil Division) medal last week, which is given to people to recognize their remarkable contributions in many different fields of endeavour, from advocacy initiatives and health-care services, to research and humanitarian efforts. Past recipients have tackled poverty in their community, improved educational opportunities for children in Canada and abroad, or raised awareness of important causes and issues.

“Each of you contributes to fostering a feeling of pride and cohesion in our society. Today, we celebrate not only your talent, expertise and the years of dedication you’ve invested in building your careers. We also honour all the lives you’ve touched through your work,” said Governor General Mary Simon during the ceremony in Ottawa.

“The Order of Canada and these Meritorious Service Decorations are an invitation to continue strengthening pride and solidarity across our nation. On behalf of all those whose lives you have touched, I offer my deepest gratitude and heartfelt congratulations.”

Neufeld received her medal with about 59 other people who were given the same award or the Order of Canada. She found out about receiving the honour back in July 2024, mere days before she was to retire from Soup’s On. She was told not to tell anyone about the medal until after the ceremony, which was supposed to be held in Winnipeg this summer, but the wildfires and the state of emergency the province was in at the time cancelled the ceremony.

“I was humbled, of course. I was anxious. I was, everything all rolled up into one,” said Neufeld. “I had to bite my lip to stop myself from bursting out into tears many, many times to the point where at the end of the day my lip was sore.”

She said her fellow recipients were amazing people, such as a doctor who performed a full facial transplant. She said she had to follow a number of protocols when meeting with the Governor General, who she said was very “warm and welcoming.”

“And she shook my hand, and she grabbed my hand with both of hers and said, ‘Thank you.’ (It’s) one of those times, you can be guaranteed I was biting my lip pretty hard.”

Neufeld was nominated for her medal by Soup’s On volunteer Scott Kehler, who has been volunteering at the organization since it started. He said he got the idea to nominate Neufeld after seeing the annual Christmas list of well-known and well-off people who have received an award from the Governor General’s office over the years. Kehler thought someone from the community who volunteers their time and makes an impact should also get it. He said Neufeld was the perfect person for the award as she is very generous and a joyful person who has gone above and beyond with the addition of the school lunch program to Soup’s On.

“I just want people to know that she’s one of the heroes of our community. She’s one of those people that has stepped up and really volunteered her life to serve others. And I think it’s an inspiration for the next generation to think about maybe volunteering as well and giving some of their time to support the community,” he said.

At first Neufeld didn’t believe that she was a recipient of the award when she got the call from Rideau Hall last summer, thinking it was a prank, but soon reality kicked in.

“I truly see myself as a farm girl. I grew up on the farm. I married a farmer. I’m a farm girl who saw a need in the community, and I just wanted to feed people. I didn’t get all the hoopla. I just wanted to feed people, and I think what was a big push behind this award happened to be what the school lunch program has turned into.”

Run through the basement of Grace Mennonite Church since 2004, Soup’s On started as a soup kitchen feeding people in Steinbach. Neufeld thought the endeavour would only run for six months – just enough to get people back on their feet. Soon, Soup’s On not only fed people who visited the soup kitchen, it also began to service 19 schools in the Hanover School Division and one in La Broquerie. It feeds about 600 to 700 students every week with its school lunch program, the breakfast program, and the family lunch program. The soup kitchen also feeds between 60 to 80 people twice a week.

“So, the supper program hasn’t changed, but it’s the school lunch program that’s just gone crazy, and who would have ever dreamt?… We’re feeding hundreds of kids each school day.”

Neufeld said she couldn’t have built Soup’s On into what it has become without the support of Grace Mennonite Church, volunteers, and donations from the community.

“And so, yeah, I was just this girl living in Steinbach, Manitoba, that wanted to feed some people, and I asked my church to support me, and boy, did they support me. And so they were along for this very incredible ride every step of the way, and so I told them this morning, and I’m going to get emotional again. See, this award is theirs. It’s not mine, because I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them.”

“I happen to be the one pulling, but literally hundreds of people are pushing, and they’ve just taken on this project as their own, and they give it their all. And so yeah, this is very much needed to be shared with so many people.”

Neufeld never thought Soup’s On would become the large charitable organization that it is. She said Soup’s On has been donor funded for 20 years. In 2023, about $18,000 would have provided 30 weeks of food for the school lunch programs.

“And it’s just phenomenal. It’s just phenomenal. And again, up until the province of Manitoba started giving the school division some funding, every single dime was a donation. There was no such thing as grants or anything.”

But Neufeld is not “a sit still kind of gal.” She currently sits on the boards of the MCC Thrift Store and Soup’s On. She says she “plays” now when she visits Soup’s On as she no longer has to make decisions on the day-to-day operations of the organization. Instead, she can visit with diners, volunteers, and help out where needed.

“I love it every bit as much as I did when I was so active in the kitchen and involved. And it’s just evolved into something that’s every bit as fun. And I just love it. I used to say I’ll quit when I have to use a walker to get around. Yeah, I still feel that way. It’s been a part of me for a long time, and I can’t imagine giving it up.”

Overall, Neufeld said the whole experience of receiving her award has been overwhelming.

“The actual moment, the minute I had with the Governor General, meeting her and shaking her hand and her pinning on the medal, it was just something I wouldn’t have thought in a million years would ever happen to me. All I wanted to do was feed some kids and feed some people and I did that.”

Beside the Meritorious Service Decorations Award, Neufeld also received the Volunteer Manitoba Outstanding Rural Community Leadership Award in 2014.