For the past three years, Pollard United Methodist Church has been named the PATH (People Attempting to Help) Souper Bowl Sunday MVP for collecting the most cans of soup during the month-long canned soup drive. Ashley Graham is an active member of Pollard UMC and enjoys being involved with this worthy cause.
     “Soup is an inexpensive and nutritious meal that is easy to give to those in need and to those who have limited cooking resources,” Mrs. Graham said. “Any congregation, civic group, school, or business can participate in Souper Bowl Sunday.  Maybe your group can be named the community-wide or congregational MVP!”
     Mrs. Graham also serves as a PATH Flicks for Funds volunteer and has served as the PATH Brown Bag group coordinator for 11 years.
     “I have fun meeting new volunteer groups each month and helping them make an impact on our community by filling bags with groceries for families in need,” Mrs. Graham said. “By getting my children involved, they now understand that many elderly and disabled people have to decide between spending their limited income on medicine or food.”
     Mrs. Graham, who is also a Girl Scout Leader, got her troop involved in the PATH Brown Bag program when they collected and packed bags with a healthy meal for each of the 350 families in need. The troop earned their Bronze Award for this service project.
     Mrs. Graham is originally from Little Rock, Arkansas, and received her bachelor’s degree in geology from the University of Arkansas. She and her husband, Steve, are the parents of Alyssa, 11, and Jonathan, 8. The family has lived in Tyler for 13 years. They are members of Pollard UMC, where Mrs. Graham teaches Sunday school and serves on the Children’s Council. She is active on the PTA Boards at both Andy Woods Elementary and Moore MST Magnet School where her children attend.
     “The more I volunteer, the more I realize how blessed I am. For most of us, it is hard to imagine going without food, but within our community, there are many who are faced with this struggle. PATH’s Souper Bowl Sunday is one way that the community can come together and show how much they care,” Mrs. Graham said.