Nearly $3 Million Gathered for Souperbowl

By Pauline J. Chang

LOUISVILLE — More than 8,400 organizations and congregations from several religious denominations collectively raised $2.9 million for the Souper Bowl of caring effort, by Feb. 4.

“The total has climbed nearly $500,000 today, and the reports are coming fast,” said the Rev. Brad Smith, the minister who founded the Souper Bowl of Caring and is its executive director. “I feel like we are well on our way to the $4 million goal.

On SuperBowl Sunday, Feb. 1, volunteers stood outside thousands of churches to collect money and canned goods for the program.

To date, the effort raised more than $20 million for food banks, soup kitchens and other charities. Last year alone, youth from more than 12,000 churches, schools and other groups in 50 states raised more than $3.5 million, up $400,000 from the previous year.

“As totals continue to climb, we affirm all of the young people who held soup pots and worked in food banks and soup kitchens in an effort to spread the love of God to their neighbors in need,” Smith said.

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