Souper Bowl will raise tsunami aid, help local hunger ministries

Jan. 26, 2005

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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