Souper Bowl of Caring: Q & A with Sarah Kate Thomas

Sarah Kate Thomas posing with herself in picture form at Kroger.

As Super Bowl Sunday approaches, families rush to their local grocery stores to stock up on the essentials: chips, salsa, guacamole, etc. The program, Souper Bowl of Caring, uses this increased purchasing of food to promote the ever-present hunger issue around the community. I had the pleasure of interviewing Memorial High School senior Sarah Kate Thomas, an avid supporter and involved student in this program, to learn more about it.

Q: What is the Souper Bowl of Caring?

A: Souper Bowl of Caring is a non-profit organization that fosters community action by mobilizing youth and using the energy of the Super Bowl football game to fight hunger and poverty in their local community. Souper Bowl of Caring strives to transform the time around the Super Bowl into the nation’s largest celebration of giving and serving.

Q: How did you initially become involved with this program?

A: I became involved with the Souper Bowl of Caring through Mayor’s Youth Council. Mayor’s Youth Council is a group of 40 high school students where we have meetings, learn about civic engagement and civil service, and volunteer. Selling hunger bags at Kroger during Souper Bowl season is one of our mandatory events throughout the year and it is my personal favorite.

Q: How long have you participated in this program?

A: I’ve been volunteering with Souper Bowl of Caring for three years. I served on the Local Youth Advisory Board in Houston my second year, and this year I am serving on the National Youth Advisory Board.

Q: What should others do to get involved?

A: There are so many ways to get involved with Souper Bowl of Caring! You can buy a hunger bag at Kroger, Randall’s, or HEB, volunteer with a group during a Service Blitz, or host your own food drive. All donations collected during Souper Bowl of Caring go to a local charity of your choice. People can go to the website to find out about Service Blitzes or donate to the Houston Food Bank from any Randall’s, Kroger, or HEB.

Q: Where do you see this program in five years?

A: Souper Bowl of Caring has built a lot of momentum in the last 25 years – over $100 million has been raised to fight hunger and poverty, Souper Bowl of Caring is affiliated with nine NFL teams, and the movement has reached all 50 states – so I would be surprised if in five years Souper Bowl of Caring isn’t affiliated with all the NFL teams. I know Souper Bowl of Caring will keep raising the bar and goal of donations each year; there’s still so much left to do!

Q: What is it like seeing a picture of yourself plastered at every major grocery store?

A: Well… when I went to the photo shoot I thought it was just going to be for a billboard, which is still a big deal, so when I saw the pictures on the hunger bags and signs I was so surprised! I’m just amused by the whole situation and I get a lot of funny pictures from my friends when they see the posters. It really is such an honor to be a mini-spokesperson for an organization that I love and am so passionate about.

A big thank you to Sarah Kate for taking the time to answer these questions!

Now that you are more aware of this program, keep it in mind as you and your family prepare for your Super Bowl Sunday festivities and maybe consider participating yourself by becoming involved or by spreading the word about the Souper Bowl of Caring!