Starting new pastimes (Printed feb. 5, 2010)
By David Harry
Staff Writer
As football games go, this one is no more exciting for Emily Carter.
“I want to hole up with the snacks and read Dickens,” said Carter about watching the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Instead, Carter and other middle school members of the youth group at Coastal Community Church on Route 1 will host a Souper Bowl party. The congregation and other friends will gather to watch the football game while raising money for the Scarborough Schools Nutrition Backpack Program, which sends food home with needy students during vacation breaks.
As the youth group prepares for its Souper Bowl fundraiser, other Scarborough students gathered in a separate effort to send snacks and gifts to soldiers serving in Afghanistan in the annual Operation Cupid project.
The pun on Super Bowl is the name of a national charitable organization that is celebrating 20 years of community help, according to its Web site www.souperbowl.org. What began as an prayer for those watching the Super Bowl to remember those who could not afford a bowl of soup helped raise $5,700 in Columbia, S.C., in 1990.
Last year, the organization raised $10.4 million, according to the Web site. The Souper Bowl sponsors in Scarborough hope to contribute at least $300 this year.
Food purchased locally with money from the Souper Bowl of Caring could help fill at least 50 backpacks, said Judith Campbell, nutrition director for Scarborough schools.
Most of the 15 children in the Coastal Community Church youth group attend Scarborough Middle School, and Emily said even she can set aside her disdain for football to help classmates in need.
“There are so many causes to support in the world, it is important not to forget the need here,” she said.
Fundraising efforts began when group members made friendship bracelets and sold them at a church craft fair. Boys and girls in the group also have competed in a penny contest to raise money.
The contest credits teams for the number of pennies brought in while larger coins dropped into jars by members of the opposing team deduct from the final score. Ultimately, all the money is donated to the backpack program. Campbell said the program also is supported by food service vendors, grocery stores and community members who have dropped off contributions.
The backpacks are filled with nonperishable items including pasta, soups, cereal, crackers and bread and distributed to parents and students who have been referred by school staff.
The next round of backpacks will be distributed Thursday, Feb. 11, in time for February vacation week. Campbell said she will not be surprised if there is additional demand for food.
The Super Bowl party at the church will feature skits by youth group members at halftime. An auction also will be held for soup bowls group members painted and fired in the kiln at Glazey Days Studio on Gorham Road, said youth group leader Luann Morgan.
Bids begin at $5 and at least one has a $26 bid submitted already, said group member Erica Williams.
The candy, snacks and DVDs sent out in hand-decorated paper bags for Operation Cupid will bring a touch of home to 150 Maine soldiers serving in the U.S. Army Reserve 619th Transportation Company, said Jim Damicis of the Scarborough Kiwanis Club.
Last Wednesday, students from Scarborough schools and Key Club members from South Portland High School converged on the cafeteria at Scarborough Middle School to decorate and fill the bags in a process combining art and an assembly line.
Scarborough Middle School teacher Tom Griffin and parent volunteer Mary Nablo have participated in Operation Cupid since it was established seven years ago, and Nablo said the project has transcended to an event.
“I think it is something people look forward to every year,” Nablo said after she helped fill about 30 boxes that will be mailed to Afghanistan by Scarborough Postmaster Tammy Rosario.
Scarborough High School senior Lauren Bickmore has progressed in five years from drawing and filling bags for Operation Cupid to buying supplies needed to fill them.
“And I am going to be sad not to do it next year,” she said.
Bickmore said she spent most of Jan. 24 shopping at stores, including Sam’s Club and Reny’s in Saco, and buying candy, cards, puzzles and DVDs in bulk to fill the bags.
Nablo said what began as an effort to send a touch of home to soldiers serving in the Maine Army National Guard 133rd Engineer Battalion with candy and phone cards was changed to include CDs, crossword puzzles and other items to help soldiers fill idle time when off duty.
Participating students are members of the K-Kids Club at Wentworth Intermediate School, the Builder’s Club at Scarborough Middle School and the Key Club at Scarborough High School, clubs sponsored by the Scarborough Kiwanis.
Students who have been part of the project for four or five years were joined by newcomers including Sydney Hersey, a student at Scarborough Middle School.
“It is nice to be able to do something for them on Valentine’s Day,” she said.
To learn more about the Souper Bowl of Caring, visit www.souperbowl.org.
To contribute to the Scarborough Schools Nutrition Backpack Program, send checks to:
Scarborough Schools’ Nutrition Backpack Program
P.O. Box 370
Scarborough, ME 04070
Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219
Staff Writer
As football games go, this one is no more exciting for Emily Carter.
“I want to hole up with the snacks and read Dickens,” said Carter about watching the Super Bowl on Sunday.
Instead, Carter and other middle school members of the youth group at Coastal Community Church on Route 1 will host a Souper Bowl party. The congregation and other friends will gather to watch the football game while raising money for the Scarborough Schools Nutrition Backpack Program, which sends food home with needy students during vacation breaks.
As the youth group prepares for its Souper Bowl fundraiser, other Scarborough students gathered in a separate effort to send snacks and gifts to soldiers serving in Afghanistan in the annual Operation Cupid project.
The pun on Super Bowl is the name of a national charitable organization that is celebrating 20 years of community help, according to its Web site www.souperbowl.org. What began as an prayer for those watching the Super Bowl to remember those who could not afford a bowl of soup helped raise $5,700 in Columbia, S.C., in 1990.
Last year, the organization raised $10.4 million, according to the Web site. The Souper Bowl sponsors in Scarborough hope to contribute at least $300 this year.
Food purchased locally with money from the Souper Bowl of Caring could help fill at least 50 backpacks, said Judith Campbell, nutrition director for Scarborough schools.
Most of the 15 children in the Coastal Community Church youth group attend Scarborough Middle School, and Emily said even she can set aside her disdain for football to help classmates in need.
“There are so many causes to support in the world, it is important not to forget the need here,” she said.
Fundraising efforts began when group members made friendship bracelets and sold them at a church craft fair. Boys and girls in the group also have competed in a penny contest to raise money.
The contest credits teams for the number of pennies brought in while larger coins dropped into jars by members of the opposing team deduct from the final score. Ultimately, all the money is donated to the backpack program. Campbell said the program also is supported by food service vendors, grocery stores and community members who have dropped off contributions.
The backpacks are filled with nonperishable items including pasta, soups, cereal, crackers and bread and distributed to parents and students who have been referred by school staff.
The next round of backpacks will be distributed Thursday, Feb. 11, in time for February vacation week. Campbell said she will not be surprised if there is additional demand for food.
The Super Bowl party at the church will feature skits by youth group members at halftime. An auction also will be held for soup bowls group members painted and fired in the kiln at Glazey Days Studio on Gorham Road, said youth group leader Luann Morgan.
Bids begin at $5 and at least one has a $26 bid submitted already, said group member Erica Williams.
The candy, snacks and DVDs sent out in hand-decorated paper bags for Operation Cupid will bring a touch of home to 150 Maine soldiers serving in the U.S. Army Reserve 619th Transportation Company, said Jim Damicis of the Scarborough Kiwanis Club.
Last Wednesday, students from Scarborough schools and Key Club members from South Portland High School converged on the cafeteria at Scarborough Middle School to decorate and fill the bags in a process combining art and an assembly line.
Scarborough Middle School teacher Tom Griffin and parent volunteer Mary Nablo have participated in Operation Cupid since it was established seven years ago, and Nablo said the project has transcended to an event.
“I think it is something people look forward to every year,” Nablo said after she helped fill about 30 boxes that will be mailed to Afghanistan by Scarborough Postmaster Tammy Rosario.
Scarborough High School senior Lauren Bickmore has progressed in five years from drawing and filling bags for Operation Cupid to buying supplies needed to fill them.
“And I am going to be sad not to do it next year,” she said.
Bickmore said she spent most of Jan. 24 shopping at stores, including Sam’s Club and Reny’s in Saco, and buying candy, cards, puzzles and DVDs in bulk to fill the bags.
Nablo said what began as an effort to send a touch of home to soldiers serving in the Maine Army National Guard 133rd Engineer Battalion with candy and phone cards was changed to include CDs, crossword puzzles and other items to help soldiers fill idle time when off duty.
Participating students are members of the K-Kids Club at Wentworth Intermediate School, the Builder’s Club at Scarborough Middle School and the Key Club at Scarborough High School, clubs sponsored by the Scarborough Kiwanis.
Students who have been part of the project for four or five years were joined by newcomers including Sydney Hersey, a student at Scarborough Middle School.
“It is nice to be able to do something for them on Valentine’s Day,” she said.
To learn more about the Souper Bowl of Caring, visit www.souperbowl.org.
To contribute to the Scarborough Schools Nutrition Backpack Program, send checks to:
Scarborough Schools’ Nutrition Backpack Program
P.O. Box 370
Scarborough, ME 04070
Staff writer David Harry can be reached at 282-4337, ext. 219
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