COEUR d'ALENE — The first stop on the tasting tour for Coeur d'Alene resident Krista Catron was the Idaho Gold Rush Cougar Gold potato soup station.

"This is just my first bite,” she said.

And — how was it?

“Delicious," she said.

It was also Catron's first time at St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho's Souport the End of Homelessness, a yearly event that raises money for the nonprofit's warming center. She said her employer, Watkins Distributing, sent its employees to enjoy the event.

"They're a big community supporter," she said.

Community was the main ingredient Thursday during the 11th annual Souport the End of Homelessness, which brought droves of people from all corners of the county and beyond to treat their tastebuds to a lunchtime culinary adventure of 25 different soups, stews, chowders and chilies.

The people's choice wooden nickels piled up at the Gold Rush station, where Northwest Specialty Hospital dietary team member and chef Jonathan Siegler delighted guests with a recipe he has finely tuned over 10 years. This was his Souport the End of Homelessness competition debut.

"I love it," he said. "I've always wanted to participate in this event, and this is exciting."

Chris Schatz of the Coeur d'Alene Police Department enjoyed a sample of Inland Northwest Catering's creamy tuscano chicken soup as he made his rounds.

"It's a cool event," he said. "It's a good way for (St. Vincent) to raise money."

St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho Executive Director Scott Ferguson said Souport usually brings in $20,000-$25,000.

“This is an event that really allows folks to come together, network, engage," he said. "Part of what we’re really proud about is this continues to be a place where we invite the community to not only connect over great food and soup and competition, but to learn more about how their contributions are impacting those less fortunate, and that the money given today goes directly to our warming center.”

Located in Post Falls, the center brings in those who would otherwise be sleeping on the streets and offers them shelter, blankets, sleeping bags and pillows as needed, as well as bunk beds and sleeping areas.

“We want to be sure that in our community, no one ever has to go out in the cold,” Ferguson said.

This year, the warming center will open at 33 degrees rather than the usual 28 degrees, he said, thanks to a matching donation.

“That capacity lets us open our doors earlier, stay open longer,” Ferguson said. 

The warming center was open 127 nights last year, which is almost double the nights it has been open in years past, he said.

“We need to be able to support those in need, and it was just colder last year,” he said.

Hundreds of people annually come to the soup competition, drawing groups of friends, colleagues, coworkers and family members to enjoy an afternoon out.

Sarah Johnson of Hayden Lake participated in the soup competition with her dance group, the North Idaho Sparklers, for the second year.

“Our dance team does a lot of community service, and that’s why we make soup, for the community,” she said. “And this is rootin’ tootin’ fabulous, isn’t it? The variety of soup is fabulous, and the causes in one room, it almost makes you cry. There’s so many good causes and charities and businesses.”

Souport to End Homelessness 2025 soup winner results:

Judges' Choice Soup (Dilettante)

1st Place: Heritage Health - Chinese Wonton Soup 

2nd Place: Acrisure - The Best Jalapeno Popper Chicken Soup 

3rd Place: First Presbyterian Church - Ginger Carrot Bisque 

Judges' Choice Soup - Professional 

1st Place: White Cypress Natural Health - Witch's Kiss Green Curry Bisque

2nd Place: Bardenay - Toasted Almond Chicken

3rd Place: St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho - Creamy Italian Wedding Soup 

People's Choice Soup 

1st Place: Century 21 Beutler & Associates - Smoked Poblano Butternut Squash

2nd Place: White Cypress Natural Health - Witch's Kiss Green Curry Bisque

3rd Place: Northwest Specialty Hospital - Cougar Gold Cheese Potato Soup

Celebrity Soup Chef Judges:

Keith Boe - North Idaho Cuisine 

Ron and Luanna Wuerful - The Blackboard Cafe 

Dana Bellefuielle - The Village Bakery 

Mark Bertram - Beverly's at The Coeur d'Alene Resort 

    Chris Schatz receives a sample of creamy tuscano chicken soup Thursday from Inland Northwest Catering's Kristina Nelson during the Souport the End of Homelessness benefit for the St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho Warming Shelter. "It's a cool event, it's a good way for them to raise money," Schatz said.
  

    Krista Cheron of Coeur d'Alene grabs a sample of chef Jonathan Siegler's Cougar Gold potato soup Thursday during the Souport the End of Homelessness event at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
  

    Acrisure team members Katelyn Gilchrist and Aaron Morton serve up a jalapeno popper chicken soup Thursday at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.
  

    Front ROI Marketing team members in wigs and curlers Bretta Provost, left, and Brynne Porter are the "Italian Nonnas" as they serve lasagna soup and zuppa toscana Thursday at the fairgrounds.