Before Louie Bartlett finished setting up the table, he scanned the room for what needed to be done next. 

The 18-year-old is a moderator for the youth council, a leadership team within the youth group at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church. Bartlett handles scheduling and planning events the youth participate in, ensuring everyone knows what to do and when to do it.  

“I call Louie my boss, because he’s such a great leader and holds everyone accountable,” said Meredith Orel, director of Christian education at SVPC. “He’s telling me what they need so that I can help bring their vision together.”

Bartlett’s biggest moment to shine came in early February.

Each year on Super Bowl Sunday, SVPC youth hold a fundraiser called Tackle Hunger Tailgate. The fundraiser raises money for the Souper Bowl of Caring, an event founded in 1990 by this church that aims to fight against hunger. People donate money and canned goods to help local charities chosen by the youth. 

The Souper Bowl is an event that has been led by young people, such as Bartlett, since the very beginning. 

The event began as a idea that the Rev. Brad Smith prayed about at SVPC in 1989. He then contacted the high school youth group. Five students helped him create what is now known as the Souper Bowl of Caring.

The Souper Bowl started small. 

“Those young people helped reach out, and I reached out to people that I knew, and 22 churches here in Columbia participated,” said Smith, who works at a different Columbia church now. “The very first year, 22 churches, and it raised $5,700, I can still remember.”

Smith then traveled to different states and food banks to promote the Souper Bowl.

“Our goal was to transform Super Bowl weekend into the largest weekend of giving in the country,” Smith said.

Now, the Souper Bowl partners with thousands of groups, including the NFL. It has raised more than $220 million since it started in 1990.

Though larger groups and organizations take part, Spring Valley Presbyterian youth are still involved. 

The youth put up posters, hold soup buckets after services and arrange baked goods for a bake sale with smiles on their faces.

“This is one of those events at our church that really allows the youth to take ownership and responsibility for being hands and feet of Jesus,” Orel said.  

The youth’s Tackle Hunger Tailgate this year raised $6,000 for the Richland 2 Backpack Program and more than 1,500 food items for Christian Assistance Bridge. 

The Richland 2 Backpack program provides meals for students to take home over the weekend. It provides students in need with breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. 

The Christian Assistance Bridge program provides resources, such as food, water and toiletries, for families in need. 

“Seeing young people learn they can make a positive difference in the world, that, to me, was the greatest joy,” Smith said.