For residents of Humboldt and area, it comes as no surprise that the region is rife with musical talent. Tuesday night’s benefit concert for the Purple Door Drop In gathered many of those incredible vocalists, instrumentalists, songwriters and poets in the Westminster United Church for nothing less than an astounding celebration of talent and uplifting stories. 

The Purple Door is a weekly gathering of people in the community who simply need friendship and some measure of support. James and Hilda Folster first promoted the idea of an informal gathering place where people could come and have a free coffee, a snack, and be surrounded by others willing to listen to, and in many cases help, those who entered. Purple Door gatherings happen every Thursday at the St. Andrews Anglican Church on 9th Street in Humboldt. 

At the concert, Hilda Folster talked about the inspirations for the Purple Door concepts. The title was inspired by the Folsters’ longtime friend, Audrey Struck, who was lost to cancer. Audrey’s familiar house had a prominent purple door, reflecting her favourite colour, greeting those who visited. The concept was also inspired by young Brody Hinz who was tragically lost in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash in 2018. Hinz was a mainstay volunteer at the original Humboldt Soup Kitchen, founded and operated by James Folster for many years. 

In 2018, James stepped away from the Soup Kitchen, which has since found new stewards and continues to provide for the community. However, James and Hilda remained committed to the community and dreamed the next venture.

“He just couldn’t sit at home and do nothing,” chuckled Hilda about her husband. “He had a dream about helping people, and one day he said ‘why don’t we open a free coffee shop?’ We see people sitting there in the park, can’t afford coffee, nowhere to go. We went hunting for a place to have it.”

Not long after, the Purple Door opened at St. Andrew with the help of Rev. Matteo Carboni. Donations help to provide the coffee and food, and volunteers like Yvette Struck, Audrey’s sister, act as hosts for those who seek comfort and fellowship. COVID interrupted the gatherings for two years, but the Purple Door gatherings are back in full swing this fall. 

The concert was a veritable who’s who of the Humboldt area music and literary scene. Well known virtuosos the Rose Quartz Trio took the stage for performances to open and close the evening. The group, composed of flutist Michele Ackerman, guitarist Kevin Ackerman and clarinetist Dale Avison, ran the gamut of styles from a jazz infused “Georgia On My Mind” to an uplifting ditty inspired by a 1964 Heinz ketchup commercial. Walter Bushman dipped into his expansive repertoire for some Ozark Mountain Daredevils, and the classics “Country Roads” and a guitar treatment of Louis’ Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World.”

James Folster himself stepped up to deliver his brand of wise and spirit-filled poetry. Newcomer to Humboldt, Stuart Slippery shared his touching and image-laced recollections of life as a boy and the importance of family. Stuart shared that he is a residential school survivor who retains strong ties to his family and his experience in the Kelvington and Yellow Quill First Nation areas. Bernadette Reifferscheid’s soaring and soulful voice gave life to a pair of well-known spirituals and a poem written by her late mother, Vernie. 

St. Andrews Church Choir had the audience clapping to the roots spiritual “Down by the Riverside” and an additional pair of hymns. The piano/vocal duo of Allison Saurauer of Annaheim and Lou Moore of Middle Lake combined for a venture into JS Bach and the contemporary affirming spirituals “We Are a Rainbow” and “My Love Colours Outside the Lines.” 

Humboldt vocalist Araba Quaye has been featured at many events, and she and guitar accompanist Duane Chaitram delivered a new take on “Amazing Grace” with an infectious jazz/rhumba treatment. Greg Marquis is a songwriting fixture whose voice blends in bright harmony with performing partner Kate Nichol. That 10 year partnership gave life to the pieces “You Are”, “Where Do We Go From Here”, and the upbeat lament “It’s All Right.”

MC Debbie Sarauer stitched the evening together seamlessly with warmth and humour, introducing Hilda Folster again at the end of the show. Hilda talked about the mission of the Purple Door and how it is the eyes and ears for the needs of the community. She spoke of an example where a single mom with a tire blowout struggled to get to work to provide for her children. The Folsters and their supporters, in their typical low-key and humble manner, saw that the tire was replaced so the mother’s journeys could continue safely. That’s the nature of the Folsters and the beauty of their mission - to be a voice for those who need it and a comforting set of ears to listen and understand.

Anyone is welcome to come to the Purple Door Drop Ins at the St. Andrews Church on Thursdays from 1:00 - 4:00 pm. People wishing to help and donate can get in touch with the Folsters and their friends at the church during those hours.