While millions of Americans&8217; mouths were watering at the thought of chowing down on potato chips, pizza and buffalo wings, the singles class at Christ United Methodist in Hoover was counting boxes of Mac and cheese and rolls of toilet paper.

Churches and other groups around the world yesterday held the annual Souper Bowl Day of Caring. At Christ United Methodist the goal was to bring in 2007 donated items. While the Colts and Bears were racking up points, Lucy Word and other members were racking up cans.

&8220;The idea came because I had seen it done before and thought it would be a great thing for our group to do,&8221; Word said. &8220;I think a youth group started it somewhere years ago but now it is an international event.&8221;

According to the groups website, the Souper Bowl Day of Caring started 15 years ago as an effort to touch lives and teach youth to fight hunger and poverty in their local communities.

The international effort in 2006 effort included almost 12,000 organizations and generated more than $5 million for charities across the country and world.

In all last year the international event brought in 280,693 food items.

Word said she was particularly happy that their singles group was able to donate the food to local families in need. All of the food donated by church members will go to Oak Mountain Missions Ministries. Jim Newton, who works at Oak Mountain Missions, said getting help from church events like this is what makes the mission as successful as it is.

&8220;It keeps us going because we don&8217;t have any other means of support,&8221; Newton said. &8220;Everyone is a volunteer that works for us and we can only grow through donations.&8221;

Oak Mountain Missions has been helping the needy in Shelby and Jefferson counties for the last six years.