Just as the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots on football’s biggest stage, friendly competition unfolded off the field through this year’s Souper Bowl Food Drive Challenge.
The Pacific Northwest Conference of The United Methodist Church claimed the win in food collection, gathering an impressive 19,751 items for food-providing ministries, while the New England Conference collected 7,804 items. New England, however, led in financial generosity, raising $16,379.92 compared to $10,411 from the Pacific Northwest.
Rev. Megan Stowe, district superintendent for the Commonwealth West District in New England, shared, “Congratulations, Seahawks fans, on the game.”
Together, churches in both conferences demonstrated outstanding generosity, good-natured rivalry, and a shared commitment to addressing hunger in their communities. This is a victory worth celebrating for its compassion, collaboration, and the lives it will impact.
In the PNW Conference, 50 churches participated in the food drive, roughly 1/4 of the conference, with a number of churches in each district joining in the fun. A full list is available on the food drive challenge page on the conference website.
Across the PNW, local churches embraced the challenge with creativity, generosity, and spirited participation. Congregations paired food collections with Super Bowl watch parties, invited people to wear Seahawks colors, and leaned into friendly competition that boosted engagement.
Families, preschoolers, neighbors, community diners, exercise groups, and even first-time participants joined in, with some churches tripling their usual donations. From playful Soup-vs-Cereal challenges to shoppers donating full grocery carts, congregations capitalized on the big game to deepen impact and strengthen community connections.
Churches reported that donated items and financial gifts were shared with numerous local food banks and church-based food ministries, ensuring support reached neighbors facing food insecurity close to home.
