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Souper Bowl of Caring 2.2016 Souper Bowl of Caring (SBOC) began in 1990 with a simple prayer, “Help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat.” The mission was, and continues to be, to utilize the energy of the Super Bowl to mobilize youth in a united national effort to care for people in local communities who are hungry and in need. SBOC started with one participating group and raised $5,700. Since its first year, the number of groups has grown as has the amount of donations. Nationally, SBOC has 6,571 participating groups and has raised more than $110 million since its founding.
In 2004, Houston Texans owners Bob and Janice McNair became the first NFL team to support SBOC when they hosted Super Bowl XXXVIII. That year, a total of 628,803 meals was raised in food and cash donations. Three years later, the Houston SBOC food drive collected 2.3 million meals. That year was the first time that three major grocery retailers and media outlets dropped their competitive differences to come together and raise awareness. What is unique about this event is these two extremely competitive industries (grocery and media) set aside daily competition for customers and viewers to join forces for the months leading up to the Super Bowl. This “come together” attitude of the grocery retailers and media outlets has encouraged other groups such as the Boy Scouts of America, several of Houston’s largest school districts and numerous religious organizations to participate, thus making the Houston SBOC food drive the largest food drive in Texas. This past January, Houstonians raised more than 2.5 million meals.
Souper Bowl of Caring 2016 Food Drive runs through Feb. 7. To get more information about volunteering or donating, click here. |
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