ELCA News Blog
January 18, 2007
'Souper Bowl of Caring' founder encourages Lutherans to raise $1 million
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service
According to the Rev. Brad Smith, founder of "Souper Bowl of Caring," Lutherans can raise $1 million to help fight hunger on the day of the National Football League's "Super Bowl Sunday." Souper Bowl of Caring is a national effort among faith groups aimed at raising millions of dollars to end hunger. It is primarily led by youth who encourage their congregation's participation by collecting dollar bills in soup kettles or non- perishable foods from parishioners as they leave church on the day of the Super Bowl. The goal for 2007 is to raise $5 million in food and direct funds. Youth groups will begin reporting their results on Feb. 4 -- the day of the Super Bowl -- and decide where to donate their collections. Totals are posted on http://www.souperbowl.org -- the Souper Bowl of Caring Web site. Information about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's participation in the effort is available on the ELCA World Hunger Web site -- http://www.ELCA.org/hunger/resources/souperbowl.html
In 2006 Lutherans raised $759,000 -- an average of $365 per participating congregation, said Smith. As of Jan. 17, about 2,570 Lutheran congregations have registered to participate in the 2007 Souper Bowl of Caring, he said. If all congregations participate -- with an additional 45 churches joining the effort and with every church collecting five percent more than last year's average -- Lutherans can "break the $1 million-mark," he said.
More than $33 million has been raised since the effort started in 1990. Souper Bowl of Caring began when Smith, Spring Valley Presbyterian Church, Columbia, S.C., made reference to Super Bowl Sunday as "Souper" Bowl Sunday in a prayer. The senior youth fellowship of the congregation took the pun in earnest, and a national effort to fight hunger was born. Smith now serves full time as executive director of Souper Bowl of Caring.
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org http://www.elca.org/news ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog