Annual event helps address needs of the hungry

Anti–hunger advocates put together the annual Empty Bowl Luncheon and Silent Auction to raise awareness and funding to help ease the plight of the hungry in Northeast Georgia.
Now in its 13th year, the fundraising event has traditionally served up a simple offering of soup and a sandwich to emphasize the type of meals many of the underprivileged eat on a regular basis. The Empty Bowl Luncheon has raised more than $75,000 for the Food Bank of Northeast Georgia and provided more than a quarter million meals to residents of northeast Georgia who are in need.
The luncheon is made possible through the support of Good Dirt, the pottery community at large, The Classic Center, Center Stage Catering and Food Bank board members Katy Arrowood and Erin Thompson. Local artists have donated more than 2,000 handcrafted one–of–a–kind bowls that, in exchange for a small donation, guests are invited to take with them to serve as a reminder of the issue of hunger in our community throughout the year. Artists also have donated more than 200 beautiful larger pieces for the silent auction to help raise additional funds.
This year’s auction will highlight pieces from local artists such as Mark Williams, R. Wood, Shelia Bradley, Rob Sutherland, Ted Saupe, Ron Meyers, Allya Macdonald, Blake Anthony, Geoff Pickett and Maria Dondero.
The meal for this year’s luncheon, scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. March 30 at the Classic Center, 300 N. Thomas St., will consist of just soup and bread, giving a truer sense of the needs that hungry face. Tickets are $20. A limited number of bowls will be available for an
additional donation.
Event organizers have added another dimension to the Empty Bowl fundraiser this year with a preview event slated from noon to 3 p.m., Saturday, March 26 at Good Dirt, 510 N. Thomas St.
Good Dirt will host the “Hand–made for the Hungry” preview event, soup cookoff and bowl presale. This family friendly event will offer a chance for attendees to sample and vote for their favorite soup, buy a handmade stoneware bowl, bid on silent auction pieces, enjoy live music and let the kids play in the clay.
Tickets are available in advance at Good Dirt or by visiting the websites www.foodbanknega.org, or
www.gooddirt.net. or by calling 706.354.8191. Tickets also will be available at the door.

Category: Life