Paxton’s Blessing Box hosted its 4th annual “Souper Bowl” Sunday on the morning of Super Bowl LVI. Co-founder Maggie Ballard was accepting canned soup donations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cans will be placed in boxes all across Kansas to help feed the hungry.  “Just to kind of narrow the need of something kind of fun to play off of the football game,” Ballard said. 

Ballard’s goal was to collect 1,000 cans of soup this year. However, before the “Souper Bowl” even started, Paxton’s Blessing Box had already surpassed it. The Community Involvement Committee with REALTORS® of South Central Kansas donated over 2,700 cans earlier this weekend. Ballard said it “took the competition to a whole new level.”

“Food insecurity is definitely way bigger than Paxton’s Blessing Box, but if we help just a couple of people along the way then it’s worth it to us,” she said. According to Feeding America, one in eight Kansans are facing hunger. Paxton’s Blessing Box tries to help those in need. It has over 100 boxes stationed across America for people to take from and give to at any time.  The charity collects all non-perishable foods, not just soup, and toiletries.  “What we love to stress is that no donation is too big or too small,” Ballard said.  Linda Stoner, who came to Paxton’s Blessing Box’s warehouse Sunday to donate, said she was happy to see people participating because she views food insecurity as an important topic in Wichita.  “It makes me feel good that there is generosity in Wichita because Kansans are generous people,” Stoner said.  Paxton’s Blessing Box collected over 3,935 cans. Ballard said it was a great day. 

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