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Souper Bowl will raise tsunami aid, help local hunger ministries

Jan. 26, 2005

A UMNS Report
By Deborah White*

Young people across the United States will continue a 12-year tradition
of supporting local hunger ministries on Super Bowl Sunday by collecting
$1 donations in large soup pots. This year, many youth groups
participating in the Souper Bowl of Caring on Feb. 6 plan to help
victims of the South Asia tsunami as well.

"Many United Methodist youth groups have suggested they want to share
their Souper Bowl of Caring receipts with the tsunami relief efforts,"
says Susan Hay, director of ministries with youth at the United
Methodist Board of Discipleship in Nashville, Tenn. "As United
Methodists, we have a direct link to the tsunami relief effort (through)
the United Methodist Committee on Relief. We encourage them to send
money to UMCOR."

Whether youth groups send the Souper Bowl donations to UMCOR or to local
charities, Hay reminds groups to report offering totals to the Souper
Bowl of Caring by visiting www.souperbowl.org or calling 1-800-358-SOUP.

The Souper Bowl of Caring is a grass-roots, faith-based crusade against
hunger and poverty. It began with a prayer offered in 1988 by the Rev.
Brad Smith, then a seminary intern at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church
in Columbia, S.C.: "Lord, as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help
us be mindful of those who are without even a bowl of soup to eat."

Two years later, Smith became associate pastor of the church and shared
his idea of the Souper Bowl of Caring with the youth. They contacted
other churches, and 22 congregations from seven denominations
participated in the first Souper Bowl Sunday in 1990. The Souper Bowl of
Caring went nationwide in 1993. In 2004, the 12,759 participating
congregations - representing all 50 states and several other countries -
 generated $4.3 million for hunger ministries and charities.

The Souper Bowl offering is received in most places at the end of
worship services on Super Bowl weekend. Youth stand at the exits of the
sanctuary holding soup pots or bowls. Congregants are encouraged to
contribute at least $1 each.

Each congregation, school or other organization participating in the
Souper Bowl of Caring will give the money it collects directly to the
charity of its choice and then report the amount to Souper Bowl
headquarters so totals can be announced to the public.

"The Souper Bowl of Caring provides a message of hope during this time
of uncertainty," says Smith, who became Souper Bowl of Caring executive
director in 2001. "The devastation of hunger in this country and the
tsunami in Asia will go on long after Souper Bowl Sunday. But imagine
the positive impact if half of the 130 million people who watch the big
game gave $1 to help those in need."

Donations to UMCOR's "South Asia Emergency" relief efforts can be sent
directly to UMCOR, 475 Riverside Drive, Room 330, New York, NY 10115.
Designate checks for UMCOR Advance #274305 and "South Asia Emergency."
One hundred percent of the money donated will go directly to this
effort.

*White is associate editor of Interpreter magazine and Interpreter
Online at United Methodist Communications.

News media contact: Deborah White or Linda Green, (615) 742-5470 or
newsdesk@umcom.org.



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United Methodist News Service
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