Making A Difference One Can At A Time
The Souper Bowl of Caring’s vision is to use the energy of the NFL’s Super Bowl to mobilize youth in a united national effort to care for people in their local communities who are hungry and those in need. One hundred percent of the donations (monetarily and canned goods) go to local ministries in our communities.
This year, FPC-Tyler was challenged by our friends at FPC-Athens, FPC-Plano, and St. Andrew Presbyterian Church in Longview to see which church could collect the most canned goods for the Souper Bowl of Caring! Throughout the entire month of January, the youth asked members of the congregation to help by bringing as many canned goods and non-perishable items for our church to win the honor of being the inaugural “Grace Presbytery Souper Bowl” Champion and fight hunger in our communities. All items collected at FPC Tyler went to PATH. Whichever church collected the most canned goods won the inaugural “Grace Presbytery Souper Bowl” Champion trophy and bragging rights for a year!
Sunday School Showdown!
The youth at FPC decided to host a competition to have more cans collected by challenging each Sunday school class to collect the most canned goods. The winning class was hosted to a catered breakfast compliments of Student Ministry.
What is Souper Bowl of Caring?
More than 25 years ago, the Souper Bowl of Caring began with a simple prayer from a single youth group: “Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.”
Since that day, more than $110 million has been raised for local charities across the country through Souper Bowl of Caring. It has become a powerful movement that is transforming the time around the Big Game into the nation’s largest celebration of giving and serving.
Through this mission young people learn what it’s like to make a positive difference in the world—as they collect food, raise money and volunteer to work in charities that provide shelter to the homeless, food to the hungry and compassion to those in need.
The Sanctuary at FPC Tyler was filled with canned goods collected for the Souper Bowl of Caring.
The Totals Are In
Because of the outpouring by our generous members, FPC collected the most canned goods and nonperishable items this church has ever collected with 3,045 items! With all of the donations, PATH will be able to feed 253 families in Smith County.
The Souper Bowl of Caring Champion Announced
But that's not all...FPC Tyler won the Souper Bowl competition - having over double the number of items of the next closest church!
The Sunday School Showdown Winner
And, now for the results of the Sunday School Showdown...the winning FPC Sunday School class is (drum roll please)...THE FORUM with 528 items collected!
Loading Them Up
The Sunday following Souper Bowl of Caring, PATH brought their truck so the congregation could help load up the canned goods. After the 11am service, members of the congregation took as many cans as they could to load the PATH van.