Your Name: Beth Ferris
Your Group: Good Shepherd UMC
Location: North Ft Myers, FL
Years Participated: 15
First Year: 1999
This Year: Collected $1,800 for Harry Chapin Food Bank
Great Job!How did you hear of Souper Bowl of Caring?
Word of mouth, from another church participating.
Why did you choose to join the Souper Bowl of Caring team?
We wanted to do something to help fight hunger and help people that are in need and make something meaningful come out of the Super Bowl game. We wanted to help the organization in our neighboring town that helps many people, agencies, schools, soup kitchens, food pantries, etc. in our county and surrounding counties, they need help getting food. They use the dollars collected my us, ten-fold, by their organization, contacts, efficiency, and volunteers.
What does your group do to participate in the Souper Bowl of Caring movement?
Our United Methodist Women group make everyone in our church aware of the upcoming collection through the newsletter, posters, and speaking at the service on that day. We stand by the doors at all three services, as people leave church on the weekend of Super Bowl Sunday, and they deposit their contribution, and are generous, and want to help.
What have you found is most successful for raising cash and food items?
Explaining the need and how the Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers, FL help many people in need, and telling them about Souper Bowl of Caring and how much people over the whole country have raised on Super Bowl Sunday with this collection for local charities.
Was there any particularly meaningful or moving story from your collection you would like to share?
When the representative from Harry Chapin Food Bank came, it was so impressive to hear what they do, that we asked her to come and speak at one of our general meetings, and possibly before church services.
Tell us a little about where you donate your collection to.
I've already said, but to repeat, we donate to Harry Chapin Food Bank in Fort Myers, FL and they are a very organized and help a widespread area in Southwest Florida. Our UMW group have taken two tours over the years, and have been very impressed. Our $1800 donation this year results in $10,800 worth of help to them, to help many other people.
Are there any resources you feel Souper Bowl of Caring could develop to enhance your collection?
No, can't think of anything.
What does participating in Souper Bowl of Caring mean to your group?
It means very much to our group, and it is meaningful to our entire church, feeling that we are helping the hungry and needy. It is something we can do.
