A Steamy Bowl of Giving

    ‘Tis the season for gift giving and generosity, and coincidentally, it is also the season for enjoying soup! Recently, the First Lutheran Church JAWS Youth Group combined these two ideas into one special event. They held a soup fundraiser that was not only successful but also benefited a worthy cause. 
    The local youth group planned an event they called ‘Fill-A-Bowl.’ First Lutheran’s Youth Director Kari Feldhaus explained that idea for the fundraiser was based on an article that a church member had seen years ago. 
    Feldhaus said that the event was essentially an elevated soup supper. “A soup meal was served plus dessert,” she said. But it was a bit fancier than your average soup meal. Tickets were purchased in advance. “The Women Of First Lutheran donated money to pay for beautiful bowls that the attendees not only ate out of but got to take home as a reminder of the event.”
    Tables were set with the colorful bowls and nice tableware. “The kids put in a lot of work decorating the tables,” said Feldhaus. Additionally, all of the food was prepared by the JAWS members and their families. 
    The meal was well-received, and many tickets were sold. But even above ticket sales, people were very generous and donated extra funds. This was particularly appreciated as the money raised was going to a special local cause: the Marshall County Food Pantry. 
    In this season of need, the JAWS group raised just over $2,000 to donate to the local pantry. “The kids knew that the holidays are a big time for the pantry, so they were very excited about giving,” emphasized Feldhaus. “It was a simple concept for a fundraiser but turned in a really meaningful activity.”
    The JAWS Youth Group is made up of 9 through 12th graders and welcomes young people of all denominations. Feldhaus said they have 30-35 kids who regularly participate in activities.