The First Presbyterian Church held its annual Souper Bowl of Caring program on Sunday — Super Bowl Sunday.

During the event, the youth of the church collect monetary donations from members and friends. The program began in 1990 in a South Carolina Presbyterian Church with a simple prayer to remind those who enjoy the Super Bowl to remember those who do not even have a bowl of soup to eat. They invited other congregations across the country to join them in collecting money to be donated to local charities and soup kitchens. The idea then grew over the years and developed into the Souper Bowl of Caring organization that established a mission statement of ” Using the energy of the Super Bowl to mobilize youth in a national effort to care for people in their local communities who are hungry and those in need. “

Locally, the community supports the YWCA Bradford food pantry, The Salvation Army, and The Friendship Table. In the City of Bradford, approximately 300 family units depend on these venues for food on a daily basis.

Participating in the program since 2000, the children and youth of the First Presbyterian Church of Bradford have collected more than $6,000 to date to help feed those in need in the Bradford community.

Anyone interested in making a monetary donation are asked to contact the church.