Souper Bowl gives chance to aid poor

For the seventh year in a row, parishioners of St. John the Baptist Church in Greenville rallied on Super Bowl Sunday.

However, they weren't gathering around TV sets to watch the football game. Instead, they brought cans of soup and money to weekend Masses as a way to support the Greenville Area Food Pantry.

The pantry is run by the Greenville Area Interfaith Council of Churches; St. John's is a member.

Renew offshoot

The annual food-and-fundraiser is called the Soup-er Bowl of Caring. Margaret Sedlmeir, coordinator, believes St. John's was the first parish in the area to implement the nationwide activity to help the needy.

During Renew 2000, a group of 12 parishioners who met for faith-sharing decided to participate in some outreach to those in the larger community.

Mrs. Sedlmeir had just read about collecting cans of soup on Super Bowl Sunday as a Christian service project. The Renew group brought the idea to the parish council, which approved it.

Soup-er day

On Super Bowl Sunday weekend each year, the group sets up a schedule so that members are in attendance at each of the Masses to greet people as they enter the church.

"People are asked to bring a can of soup and one dollar to help the hungry in Greenville," Mrs. Sedlmeir said, adding that often, people donate more than what is requested.

After the collection, the group delivers the proceeds to the pantry. The soup cans are disbursed, and the money is used by administrators to purchase additional food.

Annual event

"People at St. John's are familiar with this effort, and they look forward to it," Mrs. Sedlmeir noted. "It has grown into quite a tradition. People are very glad to take part in this effort from year to year as a parish family.

"It's a community activity and provides continuity as a service to the larger community from St. John's parish, given in a spirit of generosity."

The final score of the Super Bowl was Colts 29, Bears 17; the tally at St. John's was $342 and 238 cans of soup.

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