Amid Super Bowl Mania, Nation’s Church Youth Seize Opportunity to Fight Hunger

By  E. Richard Fortunato

You don't need to be a sports fan to know how big the Super Bowl is, Neither do you need to be an economist to know that the Super Bowl is Big Business!  

I did some research and learned that 179 million people will be tuned in Sunday when the 2013 NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers meet the AFC title winning Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII at the New Orleans Superdome. Over 39 million will throw a super bowl party, buying food and beverages to celebrate the game with wings, pizza, chips, soda to celebrate with their guests. Some 7.9 million are buying new TV set while 3.9 million homes will buy new furniture items, such as entertainment centers, chairs and couches, and 7.5 million will buy decorations, never mind the millions more who will dine and watch the big game at restaurants.  The Super Bowl is expected to bring $185 million to New Orleans. The source survey of the Retail Advertising & Marketing Association further projects total Super Bowl spending to reach eleven billion bucks! Again, that’s an 11 with nine zeros following! 

Now, contrast what American consumers spend celebrating on this one Sunday each year with the fact that  one in seven households in the U.S. are living in poverty, the highest in 52 years and it affects more than 16 million children, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Now, look back 24 years to January 28, 1990, the day the San Francisco 49ers demolished the Denver Broncos (55-10) in Super Bowl XXIV. 

That morning, Brad Smith, a seminary intern in a Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C., prayed: "Lord, as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat". That prayer inspired the youth in Columbia to ask folks for a dollar to help fight local hunger. The idea has swept the country since 1990. Super Bowl weekend has become a time to mobilize our youth to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities, transforming our annual Super Bowl into the nation’s largest celebration of giving and serving. That’s why it’s called the Souper Bowl of Caring. Since its inception, the movement raised over $100 million to feed the hungry. 

In 1996, Rev. James Debner, Pastor of Zion Lutheran Church and the youth of his congregation introduced the Souper Bowl of Caring to their suburban community of Southington, CT. located just 18 miles southwest of the capital city of Hartford. They chose Bread for Life, the local soup kitchen, as the recipient of the donations they collected to help feed the hungry in their town. Within a few short years, young members of other local churches began participating in the movement, including First Congregational UCC, Grace United Methodist, Saint. Dominic R.C., Saint Paul’s Epsicopal and First Lutheran Churches.  Since 1996, they have collectively raised a total of $25,747 plus 1,224 lbs. of food for Southington’s hungry. 

Last year, in the nation, 9,905 participating groups collected a total of $9,954,189.56 in cash and food items for 8,596 local charities. In each community, the money is directed to local charities of their choice. Southington youth groups continue to donate their gifts to Bread for Life which feeds the local hungry through several programs operated by Bread for Life, which also collaborates closely with Southington Community Services and its Food Pantry throughout the year, thus reaching more folks who simply need a bit of assistance in making ends meet. Nationally, over 14,000 groups are enrolled in the 2013 campaign which runs through this Sunday, February 3^rd.

Youth Director, Bev Montana, reports that each succeeding year youth groups at St. Dominic Church have continued to say “YES” to carrying the program forward.  Pastor, Fr. Ronald May applauds the program and how much it means to the young people as well as those who benefit from their good work. At Zion Lutheran, Debner  says, “Continuing the program is a powerful advocacy for the less fortunate around us.  The youth understand the concept of touching people, one at a time. Remembering the poor resonates with the play on words of Super Bowl for the generous donors who understand that someone out there is not celebrating today!” 

At First Congregational Church of Southington, the youth group, under the leadership of Youth Minister Dawn Karlson, Souper Bowl began taking up collections a week ago. They look forward to a successful conclusion of the drive on Souper Bowl Sunday.  Also participating again this year, Pastor Carol Downs of Grace United Methodist Church was positive in validating this fine giving opportunity for the youth, the congregation and those who will be blessed with their compassion.

This weekend, be sure to look for the young people who put their hope and hearts in the generosity of our community. 

Meanwhile, learn much more about the Souper Bowl of Caring and consider starting up a group or joining an existing group