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Published
by
International Orthodox Christian Charities,
December 17, 2004
Orthodox Christian Youth
Bring Help Locally, Globally |
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December 17, 2004
Baltimore (IOCC) – The children at Christ the
Savior Orthodox Church in Southbury, Conn., are
“small but mighty” when it comes to raising money
for charity.
On February 1, 2004, when the nation’s attention
was on Super Bowl XXXVIII, they raised more than
$300 for International Orthodox Christian
Charities (IOCC) as part of the “Souper Bowl of
Caring” event.
“They were really enthusiastic, and I think that’s
why the adults responded the way they did,” said
Fr. Vladimir Aleandro, pastor of Christ the
Savior, a mission of the Orthodox Church in
America (OCA).
Christ the Savior is one of a growing number of
Orthodox parishes in the U.S. that participate in
the annual “Souper Bowl of Caring,” an ecumenical
fund-raiser to help charitable organizations such
as IOCC.
Their game plan is simple: collect dollars and
nonperishable food items after Divine Liturgy on
Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 6, 2005, and give the
material and monetary donations to charity.
IOCC, the humanitarian aid agency of Orthodox
Christians, encourages participation in the
“Souper Bowl of Caring” as a way to promote
volunteerism and community service among Orthodox
young people. IOCC also makes “Souper Bowl”
materials available to parishes through a special
mailing and on the Internet at www.iocc.org/souperbowl.
“I think the children were conscious that they
were helping people both locally and all over the
world,” Fr. Vladimir said. “One little boy said,
‘Wow, I hope somebody gets a really good meal from
this.’ ”
In addition to raising money, the children
collected 10 grocery bags full of nonperishable
food items for a local food bank. The “Souper
Bowl” activity was reinforced by the day’s church
school lesson, and a trip to the Woodbury Food
Bank, Fr. Vladimir said.
The “Souper Bowl of Caring” began at a
Presbyterian church in Columbia, S.C., in 1990 and
has grown into a grassroots movement linked with
the national pastime of Super Bowl Sunday. In
2004, more than 12,500 congregations, including
many Orthodox parishes, participated and raised
$4.5 million for various charities.
This year’s game plan calls for young people to
receive donations in large soup pots at their
church exits. As parishioners leave worship on
Super Bowl Sunday, they are invited to give a
monetary and canned-good donation.
The young people, with the guidance of their youth
leader or parish priest, can help locally by
giving the food items to a food pantry or soup
kitchen, and globally by send their monetary
donation to a charity such as IOCC. “Souper Bowl”
organizers expect 15,000 churches to raise support
for worthy organizations nationwide in 2005.
By selecting IOCC as their charity of choice,
youth groups will be able to support programs that
feed and clothe vulnerable children and educate
and train young people in 16 countries.
Once the donations are counted, each parish is
encouraged to call 1-800-358-SOUP or visit
www.souperbowl.org to report the amount collected,
so that the efforts of Orthodox Christians can be
added to the national total. All the money raised
goes to the charities selected by the
participants.
Since its founding in 1992, IOCC has helped people
in more than 25 countries through programs of
development, emergency assistance and community
empowerment.
For media inquires, please contact IOCC
Communications Associate Stephen Huba at
1-877-803-4622 or shuba@iocc.org.
INTERNATIONAL ORTHODOX
CHRISTIAN CHARITIES (IOCC)
110 West Road, Suite 360
Baltimore, Md. 21204
Tel: (410) 243-9820 — Fax: (410) 243-9824
Web: www.iocc.org — E-mail:
news@iocc.org
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