Area schools among Holy Family 'Souper Bowl' participants

The big game is only a couple of weeks away, but the local "Souper Bowl of Caring" starts this weekend.

From Saturday, Jan. 18, to Sunday, Feb. 2, Holy Family Catholic Church is asking for the community's help in collecting donations for its St. Vincent de Paul food pantry.

Many local schools, including West Orange and Windermere high schools, and community members are hosting food drives to collect the items needed.

Those items include peanut butter (18-ounce size), jelly, canned fruit, cereal, tuna, soups, pasta and rice (1- or 2-pound sizes), canned vegetables, macaroni and cheese, and canned or boxed dinners such as Hamburger Helper and ravioli.

Holy Family's goal is to collect 25,000 cans of food. The food pantry also can stretch dollars by purchasing fresh meat and canned food at a discounted rate, so those who would like to donate online or via PayPal can do so by clicking here.

Windermere and West Orange high schools are turning it into a competition to see who can collect the most food and win the "Souper Bowl of Caring Food Drive Championship Trophy." West Orange is the reigning champion, having collected 7,565 food items last year. Windermere's goal is to collect 5,000. 

For more information on Holy Family's Souper Bowl, click here.