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DEL.ICIO.US“Bowl of caring a ‘souper’ effort for community”
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I know you’ve heard of the Super Bowl.
But what about the Souper Bowl of Caring?
It’s a nationwide fund-raiser that utilizes Super Bowl weekend to raise money and goods for charities. It started in 1990 at Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C. A seminary intern gave a prayer.
“Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat,” he prayed.
An idea was born. Capitalize on the big game. Help the needy.
That year, more than 20 Columbia-area church youth groups participated in the inaugural Souper Bowl. It raised nearly $6,000.
Today, it’s huge. Souper Bowl of Caring became a South Carolina-based nonprofit in 1997. Since its inception, school and church groups across the country have collected $41 million. Last year’s take was a little over $8 million, according to the nonprofit’s Web site.
The youth ministry at Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church has taken part in the Souper Bowl for several years. They’ve set a goal for this year’s drive - collect 1,000 canned or dry food items and money to buy gift cards.
The food will be donated to the Duluth Cooperative Ministry. Some of the money will be used to buy toiletries and paper towels for the Clifton night shelter in Decatur. Family Promise of Gwinnett County Inc., a nonprofit network of churches that provides shelter, meals and assistance, will receive the gift cards.
Super Bowl XLII takes place Feb. 3. Pleasant Hill Presbyterian will host its “souper bowl” during that day’s service. Big boxes with the names of the NFL Super Bowl teams will be placed in the narthex. Kids, with soup pots in hand, will walk the halls before and after Sunday school for donations. Later that day, they will count and load the items, then haul them to the recipients.
Some education takes place before “game day.” The youths have learned about the county’s homeless population. It’s estimated that 60 percent are children, and 50 percent are under the age of 6, according to Family Promise.
“That’s just crazy,” said Alex Reinecke, 13, a Presbyterian youth. “And recently it’s been really cold.
It’s one thing to know the hungry and homeless exist in the world. It’s something else to know they live in your community.
“They see how easily they could be in those positions,’ said Beverly Ostrowski, interim associate pastor. “They see that they are not that different from those with needs in the community.
I don’t have a dog in the Super Bowl hunt, but I hope you enjoy the game. While you’re at it, cheer for the Souper Bowlers to reach their fund-raising goal.
In their game, there are no losers.
For more information about Souper Bowl of Caring, visit www.souperbowl.org.
Rick Badie’s column appears on Sundays Tuesdays and Thursdays. Contact him at 770-263-3875 or e-mail: rbadie@ajc.com.
Permalink | Comments (12) | Post your comment | Categories: Rick Badie
Comments
By Mark
January 22, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this
Chirp, chirp, chirp…..
By Laura
January 22, 2008 1:07 PM | Link to this
I am all for charity, especially when it begins at “home.” I would like to think that I have a giving heart. But it’s a lot easier to feel moved by the plight of people in our own community than it is for those in countries thousands of miles away. I would be more apt to contribute to a cause such as this than to send money out of the country.
Thanks Rick for a great article!
By Airborne
January 22, 2008 1:21 PM | Link to this
Mark,please take that bird or cricket out of your butt or feed it,try to be a little more original.it’s probably painful commenting with chirps coming out of your mouth when something is stuck in your butt.Maybe it’s a nogs foot stuck all the way up to the knee,check it out you’re flexiable.Good article rick,some people do have a heart to gv from within.
By Airborne
January 22, 2008 1:26 PM | Link to this
Sharing,caring and understanding,is what helps the world go round. Rick i hope you open some hearts,good article.
By Jeremy D. Satterwhite
January 22, 2008 5:04 PM | Link to this
Greetings, I am a member of the National Youth Advisory Board to the Souper Bowl of Caring. First let me commend Pleasant Hill Presbyterian Church for their efforts in support of the Souper Bowl of Caring to help fight hunger & poverty in the community. Kudos to Pleasant Hill. I live in the Suburban area of Atlanta Ga. (Clayton County) I am proud to represent organizations such as Pleasant Hill Prebyterian Church on the National Board. Super Bowl Sunday is vastly approaching aim high & you can reach high Pleasant Hill!!!!
Thanks Rick for putting the Souper Bowl of Caring out there for us.
~ Jeremy D. SatterwhiteBy Mark
January 23, 2008 9:25 AM | Link to this
airborne
www.dictionary.com
Your inner city school education is showing again!
By Michael H. Smith
January 23, 2008 11:11 AM | Link to this
So, “in their game, there are no losers”?
You really believe that statement, Mr. Badie?
There are a few flaws in your “advocacy journalism” for the poor and homeless. There are people who are professional beggars. There are cases where good Christian charity is misdirected; only to make the givers feel good, which actually in turn, tends to make the poor and hungry all the more poorer.
The old fable of giving a man a fish or teaching that man to catch fish to feed himself is an element most absent from charity missions of today.
We as a society and we collectively as in our government should not give anyone (speaking strictly of U.S. citizens and legal immigrants) an “excuse” to remain homeless or in the grips of poverty. And that is the simple truth as I see it, Mr. Badie.
Otherwise, everyone loses.
By Airborne
January 23, 2008 12:20 PM | Link to this
Mark,i’m still waiting for an answer,don’t worry about inner city school education,when are you going to visit the hood? Maybe you can share your education with the unfortunate inner city school kids.I really don’t think you have the nerve to do it.You just look for small excuses to comment on.I told you that you are a punk a— wannabe.Even though i come from the hood,i’m also a college grad,i just never forgot where i came from,i’m not afraid to be among people and help those that need help,more than i can say for you.You still have’nt informed the readers as to what kind of work you do at home,and what have you done for your community? I still think you’re a scared little boy whose life has been spent in the closet and never had any friends to play with,did you ever have friends that liked you,or do your parents even like you,because you seem to be an angry thing.Maybe you feel this way because a nog took your girlfriend,or slapped you around a few times.I think if you change your ways and realize that nogs are’nt going any where but up,you may be able to admit to yourself that you’re a man,and that may stop the doubt you already have about yourself when it comes to you choosing to wearing pants or a dress.Come on admit to yourself and the readers of your racist remarks that you just don’t know how to fit in,we’ll understand, that it’s not your fault.Have a nice day and don’t get lost in your travels whenever you come out of the closet you call home.Talk to you next week.Bye,it’s fun returning your comments lets have lunch one day,and you can tell me all about your nog hatered and why you’re afraid to help the needy and not the greedy.
By Mark
January 25, 2008 12:38 PM | Link to this
airborne
What I do for a living, or how I spend my time is none of your business. If the needy won’t help themselves, then I’m not going to lift a finger to help them. They’re human debris, just like you people.
BTW, I don’t break bread with muds. Thx for the invite anyway.
By Airborne
January 25, 2008 8:44 PM | Link to this
Mark if you can sit down and eat with your mother,then you can sit down and eat with anyone,that includes the so called muds.You still have’nt answered my question,when are you going to visit the hood and share your views? I still think you’re a coward who talks big on the computer and whispers in a crowd.You’re like most rabbits i’ve met in my lifetime,always hiding and instigating,but not man enough to show your face.You know what i’d rather talk to someone who has nerve and can back up what they say,because you’re just a mama’s boy,who can’t figure out whether you’re a man or a woman.When you find your identity then let me know,as for now, you’re just a washed up rabbit who thinks the world owes you a favor.You don’t have to tell anyone what you do,because you probably sit in your dark room with you serial minded profile and think of weird things to do to people,because your comments definetly fit the profile.Readers beware the next mass whatever may come from mark.See you later pantywaist.Again,you have’nt touch ed a nerve i just want you to prove yourself and visit the hood and just be you and scream out loud that you’re a nog hater,but use the word you really want to use.As far as not wanting to help the needy,you should have thought about that when you sponged off of mommy and daddy while in college,don’t say you did’nt,because most spoiled rabbits normally do.Think about what you say,because one day you may find yourself in a bad situation.Good-night rabbit
By Mark
January 27, 2008 1:35 PM | Link to this
airborne
You are more fun than fishing. I throw the bait, and you take it hook, line, and sinker every time. What an idiot…..
By Susan
February 1, 2008 7:23 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the great article Rick. Souper Bowl is a great idea. I love it and plan to participate at my Presbyterian church on Sunday. But it seems to me we ought to be able to raise more than $8 million. That’s about what one 30-second commercial costs for the Superbowl, right?