‘Empty Bowls’ fills souls with Foodbank fundraiser

by Benita Fuzzell
Ken-Tenn Foodbank’s Ginger Bard speaks to a group in attendance for an organizational meeting to prepare for this year’s ‘Empty Bowl’ fundraiser Monday evening. (Photo by Benita Fuzzell)
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The Ken-Tenn Foodbank will once again coordinate a local “Empty Bowls” project, this year scheduled for March 5 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Fulton’s Pontotoc Park community building.

The Empty Bowls project was started to fight hunger internationally, personalized by artists and service organizations to support food related charities.

Ginger Bard, Ken-Tenn Foodbank volunteer organized the first such project in 2019, and Monday evening, she spoke to a crowd of approximately 20 people, who were present for an organizational planning meeting for the Empty Bowls event this year.

Once again, University of Tennessee at Martin Art Professor and potter David McBeth and his students will create original works of art, in the form of hand made bowls. Those who plan to attend the Empty Bowls event will have the opportunity to choose their personal bowl, to keep, as well as enjoy a meal of home made soups, breads, crackers, desserts and beverage.

Attendees dine at the Pontotoc Center or choose to take home their soup selections. Take home containers will be provided.

Bard plans to send letters to all area churches, asking for their support by supplying crock pots of soup and other needed items for the event.

Tickets will go on sale late next week, for $15 each, which includes the meal and choice of hand made bowl.

According to Bard, volunteers will be needed to set up tables on the day of the event, decorate, serve, provide food items, and assist in clean up.

Monetary donations will also be accepted.

During the 2019 inaugural Empty Bowls event for the Ken-Tenn Foodbank, 250 bowls were created, with 20 crock pots of soup donated. This year, Bard hopes to have 300 bowls available for purchase, with a need for more crock pots of soup, most likely 25, March 5.

For more information, to inquire about tickets, or ways to volunteer or donate, contact First United Methodist Church of Fulton, 270-472-3514

All proceeds generated from the Empty Bowls event will go to the local foodbank, which offers assistance to senior citizens and those living in poverty in Fulton, Hickman and Fulton County, as well as South Fulton, providing food items on a monthly basis to those in need.

The Ken-Tenn Foodbank is located at 211 Carr St. in Fulton, and volunteers transport, sort, organize, pack and distribute the food boxes, which are at no cost to area residents who qualify.