This Sunday congregants at 35 local churches will be stuffing soup pots for the Souper Bowl of Caring, a national event that takes place on Super Bowl Sunday.
Last year area churches raised more than $17,000 for the Franciscan Center, an emergency assistance agency that provides food for more than 700 people in Baltimore each month.
“The event really goes along with a day where people are out having a good time, drinking lots of beverages and eating food,” said Meghan Montone, director of development at the Franciscan Center.
The Franciscan Center sends out a soup mug filled with information to each church that participates. “At the end of their services, money is collected in a soup pot from their kitchen.” said Karen Heyward-West, chief executive officer of the Franciscan Center.
Since the Souper Bowl began in 1990, more than $41 million has been generated from the event for charities across the country.
“For 19 years, young people have been setting the example through compassion and service to others through the Souper Bowl of Caring,” said the Rev. Dr. Brad Smith, founder and executive director of the Souper Bowl of Caring. “Now the entire country is catching on and transforming Super Bowl weekend into a time of unprecedented giving and serving.”
This year the Franciscan Center asked local corporations, organizations and individuals to hold their own collections.
“We really want to raise consciousness to local people about the Franciscan Center and what we do here,” Heyward-West said. “The money stays here in the center and supports our food program. We serve out about 117,000 meals annually.”
HOW YOU CAN HELP
To donate to the Franciscan Center, please call 410-467-5340 ext. 115.
