SOUPer Bowl

By JoAnn Turnquist
President and CEO, Central Carolina Community Foundation
January 24, 2014
 
A big ‘holiday’ is coming up. It’s one of my family’s favorites – an annual celebration when we gather around the television with friends and eat a full flavored selection of hot wings, chicken nachos, queso dip and brownies.  Our friends’ children love to participate – the indoor picnic and relaxed bedtime make this their special day. The commercials are a high point for everyone and, then there’s the game.  It’s the SUPER BOWL!
 
In 1990 a Columbia youth minister named Brad Smith said a prayer on Super Bowl Sunday that started a movement. Very simply he said:
 
Even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat.
 
During that Super Bowl season, 22 South Carolina churches answered Brad’s prayer and raised $5,700 for local food banks. Fast forward to 2014 to what has become the  Souper Bowl of Caring.  Today, more than 8,000 churches, synagogues, schools, businesses, civic groups, scout troops, sports teams, etc. from across the country have collected more than $7.5 million in cash and food items for more than 6,600 charities. A staggering number… almost $8 million to help people who are hungry and in need.
 
Inspired? Yes. Got the chills? Probably. Want to get your family involved? Absolutely!
 
Here’s how you and your family can support the Souper Bowl of Caring to make a difference in your community:
 

• Join. You can either start your own group or join one in your area. Pull together your group of friends, scout troop, class, youth group, business, etc., select the hunger relief group that you would like to support and start your own Souper Bowl of Caring group. Or you can search the Souper Bowl of Caring site by your town, state or ZIP code and join an existing Souper Bowl of Caring group near you.
• Collect Food / Raise Money. Check out the Souper Bowl of Caring resources page for inspiring stories, ideas and images to help you meet your goals by Super Bowl Sunday.
• Saturday Service. On Saturday, February 2 – the day before the Super Bowl – participate in the Souper Bowl Service Blitz. Volunteer as a group at your selected local hunger relief organization. This will allow your group to see first-hand how your collections will be put to work in your community.
• Report. When it’s all over, log-in to your Souper Bowl of Caring account and report your totals.

 
You’re going to be amazed by what your group has contributed to help others. Don’t forget, donations of every size count and collectively, make a huge impact. So pull your group together, visit Souper Bowl of Caring and get started today. We can’t wait to hear about your experience!
 

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