#SouperStars: Cliff Temple Baptist Church in Dallas, TX

How did you hear of Souper Bowl of Caring?

Heard about it over ten years ago through word of mouth.

Why did you choose to join the Souper Bowl of Caring team?

I see the needs of people daily and felt we had to do something about it.

What does your group do to participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring movement?

We collect money, clothing and food for the Goslin Opportunity Center (about to be renamed: Mission Oak Cliff) in North Oak Cliff (Dallas). Our youth group leads the effort and the church brings back all they've collected to our worship service on Super Bowl Sunday. We pray a prayer of blessing over all that is collected and then we deliver it to Goslin that afternoon. After our service, we do a soup lunch with our entire church as a fellowship and reminder of what people often get fed in shelters or food pantries when they go in for help. We also allow people to give money to Goslin during the lunch.

What have you found is most successful for raising cash and food items?

We get a list from Goslin as to what they need the most. I've found that what they ask for, people will get them. Knowing the need helps motivate others. This past year, one of the things they needed most was hygiene items for people that come for help: diapers, men's shoes, etc.

Was there any particularly meaningful or moving story from your collection you would like to share?

The most meaningful story to me was when the director of Goslin, Marsha Mills, shared how they depend on the Souper Bowl of Caring event every year to stock their center for about a four to six month period. If we didn't do it, people would be lacking.

Tell us a little about where you donate your collection to.

Goslin Opportunity Center, which is about to be re-named: Mission Oak Cliff, is an outreach for families who need assistance in a variety of areas.

In addition to providing emergency food and clothing assistance, Mission Oak Cliff offers several educational opportunities to help our neighbors toward independence. Adult ESL (English as a Second Language Classes) are taught on Tuesday and Friday morning throughout the school year. Job skills and nutrition classes are provided several times each year, and GED and adult literacy classes are offered off the church campus in cooperation with other neighborhood help agencies.

Are there any resources you feel Souper Bowl of Caring could develop to enhance your collection?

To me, the billboards and connections you have with local grocery stores enhance the collection. I would like to see your agency run an ad before movies, in theaters. You have a captive audience there that has to watch it. Secondly, I'd love to see the Souper Bowl of Caring featured on public transportation (sides of buses, etc).

What does participating in Souper Bowl of Caring mean to your group?

It reminds us what we need to be doing every day of the year, not just on Super Bowl Sunday. Thanks for doing this for others.