Fight hunger while enjoying a bowl of soup!

Sixth- through twelfth-grade students involved in Builders of the Kingdom (BOK and BOKjr.) youth ministry programs at St. Gabriel Church are participating in an innovative hunger awareness fundraiser called the Souper Bowl Party on Saturday, January 31 from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room of St. Gabriel School. The party features a dinner of delicious soup, bread and salad donated by a host of area restaurants and proceeds benefit the St. Gabriel Food Pantry.

This is the 8th Annual SouperBowl event that has raised thousands of dollars for local charities. Each year the youth select a charity to benefit. This year’s charity selected is the St. Gabriel Food Pantry.

The actual bowls served at the dinner are hand painted by members of the St. Gabriel youth ministry program (January 11) and will be given as keepsakes to diners at the event. “It’s exciting for me to see our young people reaching out to serve and help others,” said Paul Kelly, Youth Faith Formation Director. “This is the call of Jesus, ‘to love one another as I have loved you.’ Young people want to help and this is something practical they can do.”

The St. Gabriel Food Pantry, an agency of the Cleveland Food Bank, has served over 22,629 people this past year in the Mentor, Concord and Painesville areas. Currently, it is staffed by approximately 65 volunteers.

Food item donations may be dropped off Monday through Friday from 10 am to 1 pm. Non-perishable items and/or cash donations can be dropped off at the parish office if the Food Pantry is closed.

“This is the 37th year that the Food Pantry has been in service to the community, starting in 1978. It has gone from being open two days a month to its current operation of being open 5 days a week” said Chris Siemen, Food Pantry Operations Manager. “The Pantry has been able to do so and continue to serve so many only due to the amazing generosity of the St. Gabriel parish and surrounding community. The community without fail has been exceedingly wonderful in their monetary donations, and many different ministries of St. Gabriel have supported the Pantry with food drives which have led to numerous and plentiful canned and other food donations. Without the support of St. Gabriel, the community at large and events like the Souper Bowl, the Pantry would not have been able to help as many as we have over the past 37 years.”

Event ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for children, 5 and under eat free. Tickets are limited. New this year we are offering a takeout option. Call the church office at 440-352-8282 for information.