by Melissa Ramirez Cooper, ELCA News Service
According to the Rev. Brad Smith, founder of "Souper Bowl of
Caring," Lutherans can raise $1 million to help fight hunger on
the day of the National Football League's "Super Bowl Sunday."
Souper Bowl of Caring is a national effort among faith groups
aimed at raising millions of dollars to end hunger. It is
primarily led by youth who encourage their congregation's
participation by collecting dollar bills in soup kettles or non-
perishable foods from parishioners as they leave church on the
day of the Super Bowl. The goal for 2007 is to raise $8 million
in food and direct funds. Youth groups will begin reporting
their results on Feb. 4 -- the day of the Super Bowl -- and
decide where to donate their collections. Totals are posted on
http://www.souperbowl.org -- the Souper Bowl of Caring Web site.
Information about the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's
participation in the effort is available on the ELCA World Hunger
Web site -- http://www.ELCA.org/hunger/resources/souperbowl.html
In 2006 Lutherans raised $759,000 -- an average of $365 per
participating congregation, said Smith. As of Jan. 17, about
2,570 Lutheran congregations have registered to participate in
the 2007 Souper Bowl of Caring, he said. If all congregations
participate -- with an additional 45 churches joining the effort
and with every church collecting five percent more than last
year's average -- Lutherans can "break the $1 million-mark,"
he said.
More than $33 million has been raised since the effort started in
1990. Souper Bowl of Caring began when Smith, Spring Valley
Presbyterian Church, Columbia, S.C., made reference to Super Bowl
Sunday as "Souper" Bowl Sunday in a prayer. The senior youth
fellowship of the congregation took the pun in earnest, and a
national effort to fight hunger was born. Smith now serves full
time as executive director of Souper Bowl of Caring.
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
