Members of Solid Rock Youth Ministries' youth group are the Souper Bowl champions.

They have a trophy as proof.

Solid Rock collected 234 pounds of food and supplies for Solanco Neighborhood Ministries (SNM) to win the annual competition.

Competition coordinator Melissa Herr said that SNM holds the Souper Bowl challenge around the time of the NFL's championship game. "It was originally developed as a friendly competition between local businesses. It is growing to include kids and youth," she explained. "This year, through SNM, I tweaked the program to make it a challenge between local youth groups. I did a presentation on the needs in the community and challenged the youth to help and have fun doing it."

The youth groups from Solid Rock, New Providence Church of God, Encounter Church, and Wesley Church combined to collect 590 pounds of food and supplies for SNM to give to its clients. Herr said she hopes to get more youth groups involved in the future.

Naturally, soup is the sought-after item, but SNM happily accepted other foods. The youth groups packaged the goods in boxes based on whether they were rooting for the Eagles or Chiefs to win the NFL's big game. The Eagles claimed the SNM competition as well as the NFL's championship.

Herr said the food drive's MVPs were brothers Brandon and Ethan Haverstick, who both used their birthdays to collect goods. Brandon asked for cake mix and balloons to be used in SNM's birthday bags. Ethan requested cans of foods he could donate.

Solid Rock Youth Ministries' youth director, Josh Rotz, was happy to have his students participate. "Melissa reached out about the competition between youth groups," he said. "We know Melissa. Melissa helps out with us and the Solanco Food Bank. We were excited about the opportunity to get our students involved and serving the community and learning how they can make an impact on other people."

Rotz said it's a good learning experience for the youth group. "Melissa gave a really good presentation about poverty in our area and the different needs students and families have and some of the choices they have to make based on the resources they have," he said. "I think that really helped raise awareness in our students that they didn't realize the extent of the needs in our community."

Rotz encouraged students to think about what someone their age would need so they could make personal choices when picking up items.

Solid Rock youth group members Kaecie Troop and Aaron Rowe enjoyed the chance to assist others.

"Helping people can really make a difference in the world," Kaecie said. "It makes me upset people out there can't have a normal life and a nice house."

Aaron bought items and carried boxes. "It feels good helping people," he said.

Herr was excited to get the youth groups involved and is hoping this is only the beginning.

"I have a passion for the youth," Herr said. "I think they're underappreciated. Now that I'm retired, I can put more time into that, and (SNM executive director Teresa Dolan) has given me her blessing. My vision is I'd like to see more youth groups and the sports teams involved. The ultimate goal is to have teams and groups mirror SNM events."

"A lot of (students) don't have a lot of money or don't have transportation, but there are so many things they could do at home that (don't) cost a lot," said Herr. "They could pick up an item from the store, make hygiene bags for the homeless, or write cards."