SOUPER EVENT OF CHARITY NEEDY GET SUPER BOWL WINDFALL.Byline: Sylvia L. Oliande Staff Writer ENCINO - Sporting T-shirts for the Baltimore Ravens
v. t. 1. To turn (an opportunity) to one's advantage; to take advantage of (a situation); to profit from; as, to capitalize on an opponent's mistakes s>. the craze over the big game to collect for the needy. By midmorning mid·morn·ing n. The middle of the morning. , the ninth annual Souper Bowl food drive was in full swing at the church on Mulholland Drive, collecting cans of soup to be donated to Hope-Net, a coalition of churches in the Mid-Wilshire area to benefit inner-city families. ``Everybody gets up for Super Bowl Sunday, apart from this,'' said David Dow, an elder and one of the organizers of the ninth annual event. ``We take advantage of a natural high that goes with the Super Bowl.'' He added that while few of the congregants in services on Sunday could remember the score of last year's Super Bowl game, he was confident that most of them would know how many soup cans were collected last year. When the food drive began in 1993, the hilltop church received fewer than 3,000 cans - or the cash equivalent of two cans per dollar raised. Since then, the total has grown to 27,148 cans in 2000. This year, the church has set a goal of 30,000 cans or the cash equivalent, although the drive comes on the heels of a difficult holiday season for charities throughout Los Angeles County. Last December, the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank reported a 33 percent increase in those in need, but a 66 percent drop in donations. And mayors throughout the nation reported a 17 percent increase in demand for emergency food in most big cities. Organizers at Bel Air said they've heard about the statistics but they're confident they will do well this year. Every year, they said, is important. ``We're conscious of the fact that charities are raising less money and there are new opportunities for those looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. a way to give back to the community,'' said Rafer Johnson, a congregant con·gre·gant n. One who congregates, especially a member of a group of people gathered for religious worship. Noun 1. congregant - a member of a congregation (especially that of a church or synagogue) and Olympic gold medal winner. ``But I think in the final analysis, you have to work your program. My hope is we'll be above our goal this year.'' CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1 -- 2) Sabrina Batchler, 4, left, brings soup to the Souper Bowl drive at Bel Air Presbyterian Church in Encino. Above, Gerhard Runken, Nancy Dow and Jean McGee gather donated soup. Charlotte Schmid-Maybach/Staff Photographer |
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