In Heritage Baptist Church, the smell of chili and chicken noodle soup cooking fills the air. On the outside, a sea of bright NFL jerseys marks the return of a popular local tradition. There will be a SOUPer Bowl Lunch on Sunday, February 8, 2026, from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM. The neighborhood is invited. Annapolis residents can celebrate their favorite teams and help a good cause at this milestone event hours before the big game.
The lunch is an important part of the relationship between Heritage Baptist Church and The Light House, a local “Homelessness Prevention Center” that helps people who are homeless find housing and learn new skills.
This “pay-what-you-can” event has been a way to combine fun on game day with helping others for 20 years. Giving a simple bowl of soup as a gift is what the 20th Anniversary SOUPer Bowl does to keep the tradition of “neighbors helping neighbors” going and directly fight hunger and homelessness in Anne Arundel County.
Let’s explore the in-depth insights of things to do in Annapolis 20 years celebrations of the SOUPer bowl lunch with Zavros Place!
The History: Two Decades of “SOUPer” Impact
The Origins (2007)
The SOUPer Bowl Lunch story began in 2007 when Heritage Baptist Church set out on an inventive but simple goal. The organizers saw that the energy around Super Bowl Sunday could be used to do good in the community. They turned a simple Sunday lunch into an important way for Annapolis to raise money by mixing a warm bowl of soup with the biggest football game of the year.
Growth and Cumulative Success
What began as a small get-together has grown into a big event for the whole community over the last 20 years. The fundraising has become much more effective; as of 2026, the SOUPer Bowl Lunch has raised more than $70,000 for the Light House. This steady growth shows how much people in the community care; yearly donations often go above and beyond original goals to give more resources to people who are homeless.
The Pandemic Pivot (2021–2022)
When COVID-19 broke out, the world stopped, but the “SOUPer” mission kept going. To keep the event going and help the Light House during a very tough time, it switched to a virtual version in 2021 and 2022. The church provided online cooking videos and soup recipes from community cooks and leaders instead of lunch. This showed that a strong community can overcome anything.
The 20th Anniversary Milestone
For the organizers and helpers, reaching the 20th anniversary mark is a big “platinum” accomplishment. For twenty years, the church and the Light House have worked together, and this anniversary marks that. It is an example that a small idea in one area can grow into a lasting source of hope for everyone in Anne Arundel County.
Event Logistics and Atmosphere
Location Spotlight
Heritage Baptist Church, 1740 Forest Drive, Annapolis, is where the 20th Annual SOUPer Bowl Lunch will take place. The church is an “associate congregational partner” of The Light House, working with the shelter year-round to prevent homelessness and provide vital services.
The Tradition of “Jersey Day”
The event’s easygoing, cheerful atmosphere is great. Wear your favorite NFL team jerseys. In “Jersey Day” communities get together to celebrate football and a good cause. It does not matter if your team made it to the championship game or had a losing season.
The Event Schedule
It will be a full neighborhood event on Sunday, February 8, 2026:
- At 10:30 AM, guests are welcome to join Pastor Scott Shelton for a morning church service.
- From 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, volunteers serve hot bowls of soup to residents and guests as the community lunch officially starts.
The “Pay-What-You-Can” Philosophy
Everyone is welcome at the SOUPer Bowl Lunch, and it is free to enter. There is no set price for tickets; instead, the event is “donation-only.” Organizers stress that all gifts go straight to The Light House and pay for programs like emergency shelter and job training. This way of thinking makes sure that everyone can join in, no matter how much money they have, and still make a big difference in the lives of local people who are hungry and poor.
The Culinary Experience: Behind the Ladle
Guest Chef Brian Shallcross
For the 20th SOUPer Bowl, Brian Shallcross is the star of the kitchen. Shallcross has been a part of this event for a long time and is known in the community as the General Manager of the Bowie Baysox (also called the Chesapeake Baysox). He is also a skilled home chef. He has given up baseball bats for soup ladles for years and now volunteers his time to make big pots of soup that are the main attraction at the fundraiser.
The 2026 Menu
On the 2026 menu, there are three carefully made soups so that there is something for everyone:
- Chicken Noodles: A comforting old treat that people bring to the event every year.
- Hearty Chili: People often say that hearty chili is “award-winning,” and it is the perfect spicy food for a cold afternoon.
- Potato Soup: There is a creamy version of potato soup to make sure that vegetarians and people with special dietary needs have a tasty choice.
The Sides and Sweets
Dinner is more than just a bowl of soup; it is a full lunch for everyone. As a finishing touch, church workers bring a number of side dishes, including:
- Fresh Greens: Every meal has a crisp salad to go with the rich soups.
- Baked Goods: You can get freshly made rolls to go with your bowls of sauce.
- Homemade Desserts: To end the meal on a sweet note, guests can choose from a range of desserts made by people in the congregation.
Where the Money Goes: Profile of The Light House
Beyond the Shelter
It is true that The Light House is more than just a place to sleep; it is a full-fledged “Homelessness Prevention Support Center.” Their goal is to rebuild lives by offering a “broad range of support” that deals with the main reasons people are homeless, like unstable jobs and not having enough essentials. Every dollar raised at the SOUPer Bowl Lunch goes straight to these projects that change people’s lives.
Key Programs and Services
- Housing Solutions: The Light House helps about 228 people a year, including families with children, provide emergency safety and temporary housing. People can stay for a few months while they work with case workers to find stable, long-term homes.
- B.E.S.T. Program: The Building Employment Success Training (B.E.S.T.) program helps people get ready for work. It helps people make resumes, get ready for interviews, and get professional badges like ServSafe that can help them get jobs that pay enough to live on.
- The Light House Bistro: This social enterprise is a high-end kitchen for advanced culinary training. Students get hands-on practice in a high-end restaurant setting, which helps them get ready for the job market.
- Safe Harbor Resource Center: This “community arm” helps people in the area who need help but do not live at the shelter. It has basic services like hot food, a laundry room, showers, and even a closet for clothes.
The Impact of Your Donation
The Light House feeds more than 1,600 people in the neighborhood who are hungry every week. People who are about to lose their houses can get help with their utilities and avoiding eviction at the center. This keeps families in their homes and off the streets. You can help pay for these important services that help more than 2,000 people in Anne Arundel County every year by taking part in the SOUPer Bowl Lunch.
The Human Element: Voices of the Event
Leadership Perspectives
People who take part in the SOUPer Bowl Lunch really care about each other and their faith. Pastor Scott Shelton of Heritage Baptist Church says the event is a key part of the church’s goal to serve. He stresses that the football game is exciting, but the primary goal is to support The Light House personnel who work hard to help people recover. The worship service at 10:30 AM before lunch is a time for Pastor Shelton to think about the “spiritual call” to care for one’s friends.
The “Army of Helpers”
Because of their hard work, volunteers make events like this possible.
- Preparation: Volunteers spend days setting up the church hall and putting together decorations with football themes to make it feel like a fun “game day” atmosphere.
- Service: A small “army” of community members work in shifts during the two-hour lunch window to serve hundreds of bowls of soup, run the buffet lines, and bring out fresh sweets.
- Their goal is to keep the event going for another 20 years. Many of the same workers return each year to welcome guests and collect donations for the shelter.
The Power of Small Donations
The “pay-what-you-can” plan shows that when people work together, even small gifts can make a huge difference. Everyone who donates money to Heritage Baptist pays for the food, so every dollar goes straight to programs.
- The Impact of $10: A $10 gift might only buy one meal somewhere else, but at The Light House, it can help pay for important things like a hot shower, a bag of food from the pantry, or a professional outfit for someone starting a job training program.
- Scaling Hope: With a goal of $10,000 by 2026, these individual donations will give thousands of meals and nights of shelter to families in Anne Arundel County.
VII. Join the Team: How You Can Help the 2026 SOUPer Bowl
Attend the In-Person Event
- Going to the 20th Annual SOUPer Bowl Lunch in person on Sunday, February 8, 2026, is the best way to show your support.
- The event takes place at Heritage Baptist Church from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM.
- What to Bring: Do not forget to wear your favorite NFL team jersey and bring a “pay-what-you-can” donation to help reach this year’s $10,000 goal.
Online and Remote Giving
- Even if you can not make lunch, the Light House needs you as volunteers.
- How to Donate: Please go to HeritageLoves.com/give to safely send money.
- Important Note: Please select “SOUPer Bowl” from the dropdown menu when giving online.
Community Partnerships: The S(o)uper Bowl Food Drive
Besides lunch, the Good Neighbors Group Super Bowl Food Drive often becomes a fun rivalry between neighborhoods.
- Collection Period: Residents can usually get food and other necessities from Thursday, February 5, to Sunday, February 8.
- Priority Needs for 2026: The Light House needs money gifts and certain things like waterproof gloves, hand warmers, boots, and insulated clothing for the cold.
- Pantry Staples: Canned fruit, shelf-stable milk, pasta, and peanut butter are pantry favorites.
Why Your Help Matters Now
Families are still having a hard time because food prices are going up, so The Light House expects more people in the neighborhood to come in and ask for help. If you eat soup, donate online, or participate in a community food drive during the 20th Anniversary celebrations, you are helping this crucial Annapolis institution continue to serve over 1,600 meals a week to our friends in need.
The Final Whistle: Building a Lasting Legacy of Hope
The 20th Annual SOUPer Bowl Lunch was a huge success, but the real goal should not have been scores. Instead, it should have been changing people’s lives. This event has proved for twenty years that local cooperation can create a solid safety net for struggling people.
Heritage Baptist Church and The Light House reached this milestone in 2026, demonstrating their solid friendship. After starting as a lunch, this tradition has raised nearly $70,000 for Annapolis. It ensures that vital programs like B.E.S.T. job training and emergency housing continue to empower people to become self-sufficient.
From now on, the SOUPer Bowl spirit does not have to end when the dishes are clean. To keep things going, you can do:
- Volunteering: You can sign up at The Light House to “Adopt-a-Meal” or do other things to help the neighborhood.
- Dining for a Cause: To help cooking students, go to the Light House Bistro downtown.
- Spreading the Word: Tell your friends about the goal to help reach the next twenty years of service.
In the end, the SOUPer Bowl is a warning that no one has to be homeless by themselves. The people of Annapolis are always ready to help, one bowl at a time.