For the hungry in the Fox Valley, the real ‘Souper Bowl’ is Saturday, Jan. 31, 2015, the day before the big football game.

That’s when Fox Valley United Way; local Jewel-Osco stores and Prisco’s Fine Foods, in Aurora, join forces with shoppers and dozens of volunteers to replenish supplies at two local food pantries, the Aurora Interfaith Food Pantry and the Kendall County Food Pantry, Yorkville.

“The local economy continues to be tough for many of our residents. The number of people seeking food assistance is still rising in our area and at least half of those now being helped are children” Fox Valley United Way CEO Mike Meyer said of the Souper Bowl drive. “Donations to the food pantries decline after the holidays, and that limits their ability to serve hungry families.”

Fox Valley United Way and its supermarket partners are asking shoppers to “purchase a few extra” non-perishable items and hand them to United Way volunteers when they shop on Feb. 1.

“Jewel-Osco is proud to continue our partnership with the Fox Valley United Way for the ‘Souper Bowl of Caring’ event,” said Jewel-Osco President Mike Withers.  “This is a great opportunity to show our support towards hunger relief in our communities and help the local pantries stock-up with essential items. We welcome and invite our customers to join us in support of this worthwhile event.”

Fox Valley United Way volunteers will be at each participating food store from 9 a.m. –   3 p.m. to accept donations.  Pastas, breakfast bars, canned or packaged soups, crackers and rice are among the non-perishable items the food pantries need.

There is a list of suggested items on the FVUW website, www.uwfoxvalley.org.

Cash donations also will be accepted at the stores or at the Fox Valley United Way website.  Meyer said the food pantries can purchase $8.00 worth of food with every $1.00 donated.

Participating supermarkets include JEWEL-OSCO stores on Eola Rd. and W. Galena Blvd., in Aurora; Veterans Parkway, in Yorkville; Orchard Rd. and Route 30, in Oswego; and N. Route 47, in Sugar Grove. Prisco’s Fine Foods is on Prairie St., in Aurora.

Fox Valley United Way provides support for more than 50 social service agencies serving Aurora, Big Rock, Bristol, Hinckley, Little Rock, Millbrook, Montgomery, Mooseheart, North Aurora, Oswego, Plano, Plattville, Sandwich, Sugar Grove and Yorkville.