VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 12/06/06)― America's teens are transforming Super Bowl weekend into the nation's largest youth-led weekend of giving through the Souper Bowl of Caring, which encourages people of all ages to care for neighbors in need.
Armed with soup pots, teens in all 50 states collect cash donations at church, school and retail outlets, and every penny raised is given to local charities selected by each group. In February 2006, youth raised nearly $5 million for charities through Souper Bowl of Caring. Eighty-one American Baptist churches participated in the 2006 event, raising more than $27,000. Endorsed by NFL owners, this youth-led effort has raised more than $33 million since its inception in 1990.
Super Bowl Sunday 2007 -February 4-promises to set a new record, since Souper Bowl of Caring has raised the upcoming event's national goal to $8 million for hunger and poverty-related charities across the country. With the help of more participants, more dollars will be raised, more lives will be changed, and more young people will experience the joy of serving Christ by serving others.
Dr. David Laubach, National Ministries' associate executive director, Program Ministries, encourages congregations to get involved in the 2007 effort: "Here is a natural and creative opportunity for American Baptist youth to be engaged in making a difference in the lives of children and families in poverty in their local communities."
No matter the size of your congregation or your youth group, your church can stir it up in 2007, helping to provide shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry and compassion to the needy by joining the national grassroots movement.
It's as simple as holding soup pots at church doors following worship on or near Super Bowl Sunday and asking worshippers to drop in a dollar for people who are hungry. Souper Bowl of Caring provides all the materials you need. All you have to do is:
REGISTER your group at www.souperbowl.org;
RALLY your youth on Super Bowl Sunday;
REPORT your collection to www.souperbowl.org on or near Super Bowl Sunday;
DONATE your collection to the charity of your choice.
Registrants receive a resource kit that includes planning and promotion materials and an owner's manual with step-by-step instructions and ideas, along with a poster, bulletin insert, soup pot sticker and DVD.
"Youth everywhere are demonstrating how small efforts can make a huge impact in the fight against hunger and poverty," says Brad Smith, Souper Bowl of Caring's founder and executive director. "We applaud everyone who has signed up to use this event to step outside of themselves and help their neighbors in need."
For more information, call 800-358-7687 or v isit www.souperbowl.org.
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches, USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/