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Souper Bowl of Caring

The Souper Bowl of Caring is an annual event where communities nationwide come together, inspired by the Super Bowl, to tackle local hunger by raising food and funds for nonprofits. While millions watch the Big Game on February 9th, this event helps fans focus on their neighbors' needs.

Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach invites local churches, schools, civic clubs, and businesses to join their Souper Bowl team to fight hunger in Lincoln. Feeding the hungry is central to Matt Talbot’s mission, with two hot meals served daily, year-round. In 2023, over 250,000 meals were provided—a 39% increase from the previous year. Beyond meals, Matt Talbot offers services like life skills education, counseling, case management, housing assistance, and help with basic needs like showers and laundry.

Participation is simple: make an announcement one week and collect donations the next. Cash, food, or wish list items are welcome. Just $1 or one item per person makes a difference. Matt Talbot staff can help plan and provide collection supplies.

To get involved, contact Jenn Boettcher at 402-817-0615.

Together, we can tackle hunger—one donation at a time!

What's your game plan?

#1 Collect Donations
Anyone can do this! Gather a group, choose a drop-off location, and start collecting. Here are some groups that could participate:

  • Your office or co-workers
  • Church or church groups
  • Neighborhood associations
  • Your family
  • Clubs like book, sewing, coffee, or running clubs

One item or one dollar per person makes a big difference! Needed pantry items include mac & cheese, canned meats, pasta and sauce, canned fruits and vegetables, cereal, canned beans, soup, and boxed meals.

#2 Create a Contest
Make it fun! Create teams and see who collects the most donations. Try ideas like:

  • Department A vs. Department B (e.g., Accounting vs. Marketing)
  • Team Tuna vs. Canned Chicken (get creative with names!)
  • Assign teams a letter of the alphabet; donations must start with that letter (e.g., Team C donates corn).

#3 Facebook Fundraiser
Start a fundraiser from your phone or couch:

  1. Tap the nine-dot icon on Facebook.
  2. Select “Fundraisers” under the Create menu.
  3. Choose Matt Talbot Kitchen & Outreach as your nonprofit.
  4. Fill in your fundraiser info and set a goal.
  5. Select an end date (Souper Bowl events run through January and February).
  6. Create a fun title (e.g., Tackle Hunger with Abi).
  7. Share why this fundraiser matters to you.
  8. Click “Complete.”

#4 Get Youth Involved
Invite kids to join the effort!

  • Work with a church youth group to collect donations.
  • Encourage your children’s teams or clubs to participate.
  • Ask teachers to set up classroom collection spots.

We are not currently accepting registrations for the SBOC.