In 2024 there is Super Bowl, the big game, and there is Souper-Bowl where hunger is no game. Here, in Carlisle, Souper-Bowl is looking towards churches, youth groups, companies, warehouses, organizations, and professional offices are being invited to get back on Project SHARE’s “field” to participate in a nationwide movement to raise awareness, funds, and food for those in need. In 2023 over 5 million dollars was collected through the nationwide Souper-Bowl of Caring program, to help those with food insecurity. In Central PA, local teams will be putting together their game plan in multiple categories!
This year CBS21 is teaming up with Project SHARE. CBS21 will be hosting the Super Bowl while leading up to the game. Our friends at CBS21 will be emphasizing the hunger is not a game and suggesting that the listening audience consider getting their teams on the field to help Project SHARE reach their goal of $10,000 for SOUPER Bowl 2024! A special webpage, via their website, is devoted to SOUPER Bowl 2024! Link to projectSHAREpa.org/souper-bowl.
In past years congregations have declared Super Bowl Sunday as SOUPER-BOWL Sunday with special collection jars representing each team. Others organized special fundraisers on the day and or leading up to the big game, which this year is on February 11th. Youth groups have collected non-perishable goods and held sales of goods and services. Texting donation options have also provided valuable funds for Project SHARE to leverage food at greatly reduced prices. QR codes take donors right to our Virtual SHARE Shop where you can choose various foods that will be delivered to Clients. Virtual is the way forward. Personalized team codes allow groups to track how their team is scoring. Local firms have also conducted fundraisers that build their teams while helping SHARE. There is no end to the creative ways to participate from chili cook-offs to art and bakery auctions.
Many families continue to need nutritious food assistance above and beyond what they can provide. Another population in need of assistance are those who are working yet unable to earn enough money or have faced other forms of financial hardship that place them in the ALICE (Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed) population. Through their Farmstand location Project SHARE provides basic supplies of dairy, bread, eggs, and fresh produce every week currently for 437 family units. Total family households fed this past month were 794. That is an increase of approximately 30% when you combine the regular Distribution together with the Farmstand.
Joe Kloza, Communications Coordinator at SHARE stated “If everyone watching the big game chipped in, to help Project SHARE to feed and outreach to the community in need, this would give added meaning to our day in front of the TV.” For those interested in seeing how their team can participate in this year’s SOUPER-BOWL they are asked to go to www.projectSHAREpa.org/souper-bowl and or contact Joe at Project SHARE 717-249-7773 ext 236 or by e-mail at JKloza@projectSHAREpa.org for ideas on fielding a team for SOUPER-BOWL 2024.
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