Happy New Year to all!
I’m sure everyone has got some New Year’s Resolutions for 2026. As we near the end of January, I certainly hope you have been feeling refreshed and ready to take on the New Year and all the excitement 2026 may bring.
Resolution #1: Community Outreach
I personally tried to enter the New Year with community outreach in mind. From volunteering at my local cat shelter to my continuing support of Service for Sight’s and their own mission to assist people with visual impairments, I try to make giving back to my community a habit. However, it is also important to keep in mind how to help beyond these habits, beyond the routine kindnesses we may pursue.
With February coming up, I am hoping to do just that: to push myself to help my community beyond the small things I already do. One way I hope to do so is through the Super Bowl—and I invite you all to join me in this endeavor.
Opportunity for Impact
I know I am excited for the Super Bowl—I look forward to the game every year, and 2026 is no different. Whether at home or at college, I always watch the game with my close ones, complete with pizza and snacks and sugary soda. The NFL saw a record of 127.7 million Super Bowl viewers just in the U.S. alone last year, and the National Retail Federation (NRF) estimated the total spending by fans to surmount to $18.6 billion.
The millions of Super Bowl viewers obviously hold an immense amount of spending power, so just imagine what would happen if we turned that power towards helping others? Well, we would change many, many lives, that’s for sure.
And, that is exactly what Tackle Hunger’s Souper Bowl of Caring initiative does every year.
Souper Bowl of Caring
This isn’t the first time the Infinite Smile Project has supported Tackle Hunger—for more information, look at our January 2020 Campaign blog post—but it is always worth repeating when it comes to a continued support of important, impactful organizations.
While fans like me may enjoy a vast supply of snacks and drinks for the Super Bowl, not everyone has that kind of access. Founded in 1990, Tackle Hunger knows this fact well, and they have been fighting hunger in the U.S. ever since. Focused on turning celebratory moments into opportunities for real impact, Tackle Hunger has raised 220 million dollars worth of food and funds through their Souper Bowl of Caring Campaign. Not only do they support qualities of equity, inclusivity, engagement, or accountability, but they also key in on community engagement.
Community engagement is a huge part of Souper Bowl of Caring campaign. The organization mobilizes communities across the U.S. towards supporting their local food charities however they can.
Similar to the Infinite Smile Project, you can start your own Souper Bowl of Caring group anywhere: your own household, or perhaps your whole neighborhood; your school; your sports teams; your community organizations. Even if you don;t have a group, you can always just donate through Tackle Hunger’s Online Donations. The where doesn’t matter so much as just how you’re able to join the fight against hunger and poverty in the U.S.
How to Participate with a Group
Want to join the more than 300,000 groups supporting Souper Bowl of Caring? Then just first get your group together and then follow the steps detailed by Tackle Hunger through this link: PARTICIPATE as a GROUP — Tackle Hunger: Home of the Souper Bowl of Caring.
In the meantime here is a summary of the steps and resources needed to get started:
- Select your Charity through the Tackle Hunger Interactive Map. If you don’t see your desired charity, just reach out to Tackle Hunger to help them update their map.
- Choose how you would like to participate. You can choose from an in-person food drive, collecting cash donations in soup pots, or even hosting a virtual campaign.
- Register your campaign through Tackle Hunger. This step is both easy and free, so don’t sweat it!
- Use Tackle Hunger’s Free Resources to promote your campaign. Resources include a playbook with more detail, flyers, logos, steps on how to host virtual campaigns, coloring pages, and more.
- Celebrate your accomplishments by reporting back to Tackle Hunger! Share your results through emailing reports@tacklehunger.org or calling 1-800-358-SOUP (7687). You can even share media highlights by tagging @souperbowl on social media or simply sharing photos within your email.
Recap
Once done, know that you have done some real, life-changing work. Everyone deserves to have food on the table for every meal, so I certainly hope you join us in our support of Souper Bowl of Caring.
However, if you’d prefer a different way to give back, many people in our community can appreciate a homemade card, small donation, or even a visit. We also invite you to participate in any of the following local organizations:
- Ways to Give to the CHOC Foundation
- Laura’s House, or specifically their Amazon Wishlist
- Send a Care Package or Card through Operation Military Matters
- Meals on Wheels or volunteer at any local nursing home
- Any of Orange County’s Food Banks, whether through single donations or a food drive with your club
No matter how you do it, we support and celebrate all forms of community impact. Never forget that even just one dollar can make a huge impact.
Warm wishes,
Maddie
