ELCA News Blog
September 20, 2007
Lutherans raised $820,263 in 2007 'Souper Bowl of Caring' effort
by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) raised $820,263 to support hunger-fighting organizations across the United States and Caribbean as part of the 2007 "Souper Bowl of Caring" -- an annual effort among faith groups aimed at raising millions of dollars to fight hunger. The effort is primarily led by youth who encourage their congregation's participation in the Souper Bowl of Caring by using soup kettles to collect one-dollar bills from parishioners as they leave church on the National Football League's (NFL) "Super Bowl Sunday." Youth also collect food products to support local food centers or shelters and take part in volunteer opportunities. Youth groups decide where to donate their collections. Some congregations of the ELCA contributed their donations to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal and local Lutheran social ministry organizations.
Congregations began reporting their results on the day of the Super Bowl, which was Feb. 4. As of September, 14,500 faith groups across the country raised more than $8.2 million in 2007. Totals are posted on the Souper Bowl of Caring's Web site. No proceeds from the effort are sent to the Souper Bowl of Caring.
The next Souper Bowl of Caring will take place on Feb. 3, 2008 -- the date of the next NFL Super Bowl. "Information in the Winter 2007-2008 ELCA World Hunger Resource Packet, mailed to every congregation in October, will encourage ELCA youth groups to use Souper Bowl of Caring as a starting point on a journey to meaningfully make a difference in the lives of neighbors near and far who struggle with hunger and poverty," said Sue Edison- Swift, communication director, ELCA World Hunger and Disaster Appeal. "Each year we are thankful for the many groups who donate their collected funds to the ELCA World Hunger Appeal. It makes a life-saving difference."
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