Central Texans Unite to Use Football Game to Raise Funds and Awareness for Hunger Relief

With the help of the Linder Elementary School student body, non-profit organization Souper Bowl of Caring and community leaders are once again joining forces to transform the time of the Super Bowl into the nation's largest celebration of giving and serving during Souper Bowl of Caring Central Texas.

Kicking off today at Linder Elementary School and continuing through Super Bowl Sunday, Feb. 1, Central Texans are encouraged to participate in this community-wide giving and serving project. Organizers have set a goal of raising food and money to provide 2 million meals to meet the rising need of food assistance in the community. Every dollar and food item donated during Souper Bowl of Caring goes straight to hunger-relief organizations in the Austin area.

"For 25 years, young people across the country have been inspiring others by utilizing the energy of the Super Bowl to help those who are in need through Souper Bowl of Caring," said Clara Cooper, President and CEO of Souper Bowl of Caring. "When businesses and community leaders in Central Texas unite for a common cause, thousands of hungry individuals are helped. Combining efforts can increase the opportunity for others to participate, raise awareness and grow this incredible movement of giving."

Souper Bowl of Caring began as a simple youth group project in South Carolina in 1990 and has grown into a national movement uniting people of all ages and backgrounds to use the time around the Super Bowl to fight hunger and poverty. In 2014, the Central Texas program generated enough food and money to provide more than 1.4 million meals. 100% of all donations were donated to local food assistance organizations in Central Texas.

Competitive food retailers H-E-B, Central Market and Randalls have teamed up to encourage customers to purchase and donate pre-packed bags filled with non-perishable food items or make a cash donation at participating stores in the greater Austin area. Donations at the stores will benefit the Capital Area Food Bank of Texas, which serves nearly 300 hunger relief agencies in 21 Central Texas counties.

More than 200 area schools and congregations will also organize events and conduct drives at their locations leading up to Super Bowl Sunday. For a complete list of participating community organizations, volunteer opportunities and live results of this city-wide initiative, visit tacklehunger.org/austin.

Souper Bowl of Caring Central Texas is led by partners H-E-B, Central Market, Randalls, FOX 7; KEYE-TV; Telemundo Austin; KVUE-TV; KXAN Austin News; The CW Austin; KBVO; Time Warner Cable News; KVET Austin 98.1 FM; KASE 101; AM 1300 The Zone; Latino 102.7; 104.3; Mas Variedad 107.7; 107.1 La Z; Incite; the Austin American-Statesman; The Jewish Outlook; The Jewish Federation of Greater Austin and the Capitol Area Council Boy Scouts.