Diocese to tackle hunger during the Souper Bowl

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SALT LAKE CITY — People in the Diocese of Salt Lake City will pass the hat for donations and maybe pass up an extra treat as well during this year’s Super Bowl Feb. 2, to help fight hunger and poverty.

The Souper Bowl of Caring is a national event during Super Bowl weekend to mobilize young people throughout the United States to fight hunger and poverty in their communities. The goal is to transform Super Bowl weekend into America’s largest youth-led weekend of giving and serving.

The Souper Bowl got started last year in the Diocese of Salt Lake City. Dominic Colosimo, the Juan Diego Catholic High School’s student body president, decided to get involved as a way to find good in his grief, he said.

"My cousin, Adam Colosimo, passed in 2012, and it was extremely hard for me; one of the hardest times of my life," Colosimo said, adding that the two grew up like brothers. "We did everything together: played on the same sports teams, went to the same school all the way to 10th grade, when Adam passed away."

Colosimo was inspired when David James, KUTV 2 sports reporter, spoke to a group of Adam Colosimo’s friends in 2013 and told them of his own life struggles and how the Souper Bowl of Caring helped him to see the good of what can come out of a tragedy.

"I didn’t want my cousin to die in vain and have nothing come of his death, so I jumped on this fundraiser hoping to cure the grief and hard feelings I had," said Colosimo.

Last year’s inaugural Souper Bowl of Caring on the Skaggs Catholic Center campus, with help from Saint Thomas More Parish, raised $35,000, exceeding its goal by $10,000.

This year, Colosimo decided to "vamp up the goal" because the event will run during Catholic Schools’ Week, Jan. 27-31, he said.

To expand the event’s impact, Colosimo asked the student body officers at Judge Memorial and Saint Joseph Catholic high schools to join in to meet a goal of 100,000 cans of food and/or dollars.  

He also has gained the help of the Most Rev. John C. Wester, Bishop of Salt Lake City.

"I support this effort and am asking that all Catholic entities embrace this food drive to the extent they deem possible," Bishop Wester wrote in a letter to the diocesan parishes and schools.

Most Utah Catholic schools have chosen Catholic Community Services as the charity of their choice to receive the food and money they collect during the Souper Bowl of Caring.

"However, each Catholic entity may choose other worthy charities as the recipients of their food-drive efforts," Bishop Wester said.

Each Catholic high school will help organize efforts at some of the diocese’s elementary schools and parishes, as well as hosting their own activities.

Juan Diego CHS will have a food drive during Catholic Schools’ Week.

"The statistic is 170,000 kids go without meals each month," said Colosimo. "That is shocking, and we feel it is our duty to give back."

Ally Dugan, Judge Memorial CHS’ student body president, was impressed with Colosimo’s initiative and passion in this project, "but I also thought it sounded like a lot of fun," she said.

At St. Joseph Catholic High School, "I thought it was a great idea," said David Donlevy, the student body president. "Our food will go to St. Anne’s Homeless Shelter in Ogden. I’ve served food there a couple of times and it’s great seeing the people come in and seeing the smiles on their faces when they receive food and you say ‘hello’ to them. Serving food to them really opens your eyes."

Colosimo asked that those who do collect food or monetary donations for the Souper Bowl of Caring to report them so an accurate total can be tallied.

"If we reach the $100,000 goal, I think we will ask Bishop Wester for a day off of school," he said. "This is a fundraiser in which everyone can participate in some way or another."

Send food or monetary totals to lynellewilliams@skaggscatholiccenter.org. For information, call Lynelle Williams, 801-984-7608.