MARIETTA—For the second year in a row, middle-school religious education students at Holy Family Church reached the end zone in the National Souper Bowl for Caring with impressive statistics.

Under the leadership of Mollie Halle, service project director, and with assistance from the parish Life Teen group, the middle-school students collected more than $1,600. In addition, parishioners donated hundreds of canned goods and over 1,400 articles of clothing.

On March 4, student representatives Victoria Halle, Jennifer and Mark Meredith and Michelle Simpson presented a check to Belinda Snow, transitional housing director for MUST Ministries.

Snow told parishioners the money was earmarked for much-needed renovations to Cantrell House, a converted farmhouse in Kennesaw with two units of transitional housing especially for families.

“Each year, Cantrell House shelters 12 to 18 families,” she said. “There are families out there with kids just like ours every day without homes.”

Snow also commended the children for their continued efforts on behalf of MUST Ministries and said it’s important for young people to understand that not everyone has a nice house and car. She pointed out that money from last year’s Souper Bowl campaign went to help purchase a van for summer lunch delivery. That program took 1,000 lunches a day to needy people in Marietta and other Cobb County areas.

Craig Stewart, Grand Knight of Holy Family’s Knights of Columbus council, also presented Snow with a check for $1,500. The money was raised through the Carpenter Open Golf Tournament, the parish pasta dinner and other charitable events during the year.

In addition, the Knights of Columbus, who have been great and enthusiastic supporters of the Holy Family middle school program, are renovating the Cantrell House.