MELROSE — The first annual Melrose “Souper Bowl” was held February 3 through 7, the week leading up to the actual Super Bowl. The event was organized by local hunger relief nonprofit The Food Drive in partnership with six Melrose schools the Franklin Early Childhood Center, Horace Mann Elementary, Hoover Elementary, Lincoln Elementary, Roosevelt Elementary and Winthrop Elementary.
During the week, students collected soups and other nonperishable items with a friendly competition between classrooms. In addition to collecting much needed food in the middle of winter, the event brought awareness to ongoing needs in our community since one in three residents of Massachusetts currently face food insecurity.
On Monday, February 10 items were tallied and winning classrooms celebrated. Volunteers from The Food Drive picked up at the schools and delivered 1700 soups and pantry staples to Bread of Life in Malden plus the two Little Free Pantries at First Baptist Church and 4 Gould Street in Melrose.
Prizes for winning classrooms included an extra recess, selection of a Spirit Day theme and a “Dress Like Your Teacher Day.” This first time event was such SOUPER success that The Food Drive plans to hold it in partnership with the schools each February.
