wfn.org | Lutherans Participate in 'Souper Bowl' Sunday

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ELCA NEWS SERVICE

December 18, 1998

LUTHERANS PARTICIPATE IN 'SOUPER BOWL' SUNDAY
98-44-250-MR

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- When the Rev. Brad Smith at Spring Valley
Presbyterian Church, Columbia, S.C., made reference to the National Football
League's "Super Bowl" Sunday as "Souper Bowl" Sunday in his sermon, the
senior youth fellowship of the congregation took the pun in earnest.  As a
result, a national effort to fight hunger was born.
     "Souper Bowl of Caring," which started in 1990, will take place
Sunday, Jan. 31, 1999, the day of the championship football game.  Members
of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America plan to participate.
     "What would happen if all of the ELCA's 11,000 congregations
participated?  If youth collected one can of food for a local food bank and
one dollar for ELCA World Hunger Appeal from each worshiper leaving church
on January 31, nearly $2 million would be raised for local and international
anti-hunger efforts," said Laurel Hensel, director for stewardship marketing
and resources in the ELCA's Division for Congregational Ministries.
     "Through the ELCA World Hunger Appeal, a dollar provides one day's
supply of food for five children; three vaccinations to help save 12
infants' lives; and Vitamin A capsules to protect 14 toddlers from
blindness," Hensel said.
     Participants in the effort will arrange for youth from each church to
collect donations in large soup pots as parishioners leave worship the
morning of the championship football game.  Each congregation selects and
sends the contribution directly to the charity of their choice.  Organizers
are asked to report their results on game day by visiting www.souperbowl.com
-- the Souper Bowl of Caring's web site.
     The partnership has grown from 22 churches the first year to 8,500
congregations representing every U.S. state and Canada.  The effort
generated $1.7 million in 1998.  More than $4.5 million has been raised
since the effort went national in 1993.

For information contact:
Frank Imhoff, Assoc. Director (773) 380-2955 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html