SPRINGFIELD >> The Super Bowl can wait; first Delaware County churches and community joined hands in the Souper Bowl.
Proof of Saturday’s annual pre-Super Bowl fundraising effort was the continuous stream of vehicles dropping off donations and the sorting of loads of bags and boxes of food at St. Francis of Assisi Church, and others throughout the community. Yes, the Delaware County Souper Bowl of Caring was in full gear Saturday.
“It gets bigger and bigger and bigger,” said Jim Larkin, coordinator of St. Francis’ Saturday event. “People’s hearts are big and they donate lots of food. Last year, we collected ... over 7,000 pounds worth of food and collected about 40,000 units last year. We’re looking to get (45,000) or more this year.”
The Souper Bowl of Caring began in 1990, the idea of seminary intern Brad Smith. Smith was serving at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Columbia, S.C., when a prayer turned his thoughts over to why not have people collect food and money for the needy during Super Bowl weekend, a time when they traditionally come together. That first year, 22 South Carolina churches participated and sent $5,700 to local non-profits. Since then, more than $90 million has been raised for soup kitchens, food banks and other charities.
On Saturday, food was collected throughout the Springfield/Morton communities and sent to four churches – St. Francis of Assisi, St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church and Tree of Life Presbyterian Church in Springfield and Chambers Presbyterian Church in Morton. From there, the food was sent to Chester Eastside Ministries, the Bernardine Center and Loaves & Fishes Pantry in Prospect Park.
“Over the last four years, we’ve one up in donations every year,” event organizer Joe Couchara said. He explained that it continues today as 10 area churches are collecting food and money from their congregations for the cause.
On Saturday, about 500 volunteers collected, sorted and helped to distribute the food. About 200 of them were at St. Francis of Assisi, where CYO youth participate in the food drive as part of their community service requirement.
“To me, this is CYO – community coming together, working together for other people, not just working for themselves but working for other people,” CYO president Marty Meenan said. “It’s great to teach the kids this.”
Larkin agreed.
“We make it a point of emphasis to have them give back to the community and do service for the community,” he said, adding that the Souper Bowl of Caring was the biggest charity event St. Francis does throughout the year.
Nearby, a group of members from St. Francis’ basketball Bruins – Megan Doherty, 13, Carly Walters, 13, Claire Kutufaris, 14, Grace Atchison, 14 and Caroline Walters, 13 – were busy sorting through the incoming items, weeding out ones whose expirations were too old and packing ones that were good to go.
They had just returned from collecting the donations along Rolling, Hillcrest and Springfield roads.
“We got a lot!” Caroline Walters shared enthusiastically.
The other Walters, Carly, was also excited.
“It’s good to know that you’re helping people by doing this,” she said, adding that it’s also fun when doing it with your friends.
Larkin said the service aspect was critical to the day’s exercises.
“It really is just all about giving,” he said. “It’s really about taking care of those who are food insecure or who don’t have the means to provide their families with a meal, stuff that we take for granted.”
In addition, Meenan said it gives the participants a bigger picture that can be transferred to future generations.
“I know I did it because my dad always told me to get out and help the neighbors,” he said. “Hopefully, (the kids) realize that and when they get older, they pass that on.”
And, Couchara said the good will can continue beyond one day, both today in the collections at local churches and by donating by visiting the Facebook page at Delaware County Souper Bowl of Caring.
