The fourth annual Empty Bowls Project got underway Thursday morning at the Brownwood Coliseum to emphasize hunger not only worldwide, but in our own community.
During the event, attendees choose a hand painted ceramic bowl, and after a bowl of soup is enjoyed, the bowls are taken home as symbols to remind of those less fortunate with empty stomachs throughout the community.
All of the soup was donated from local restaurants and the bowls have been painted by a cross section of the community including schools, colleges, nursing homes, Sunday school classes, scout troops, youth groups and more. More than 1100 bowls were painted for the event according to Misty Bowers of Good Samaritan Ministries. Soup and beans will be served until 7:00 PM Thursday evening during the event.
Ninety percent of the proceeds from the event will benefit local families through Good Samaritan Ministries, while the remaining 10 percent will go toward fighting hunger worldwide as a tithe from GSM.
The event serves not only as a hunger awareness campaign, but also to raise much needed funds for hungry families who depend on the Good Samaritan Ministries’ food pantry, deer project, and food for thought.
In 2012, through these ministries:
- 936,734 pounds of food given through GSM food pantry
- 4192 unduplicated families were served
- 4495 food for thought bags were provided to students from 14 area school campuses for weekend hunger relief
Gift items, home décor, tools, gift certificates and more were donated and for sale at the event.
Volunteers from the Good Samaritan Ministries and approximately 70 students of Howard Payne University helped organize, set up, greet and serve during the event. Without their help, the event would not be possible, stated GSM Executive Director Angelia Bostick.
“We don’t hold major fundraisers and events just to have something to do and stockpile money in our bank account,” Bostick said previously about the event. “There is a very real need and this fundraiser provides a platform to meet that need while allowing an avenue for every age group and people group to be involved in a positive way in this community.”
Local businesses provided soup and beans for the event, these Soup/Bean Sponsors for 2013 included:
The Runaway Train Café
Texas 4-H Conference Center
Prima Pasta
Brownwood Country Club
Steves’ Market & Deli
Humphrey Pete’s
Skillets
Taquito Millionario
Mi Familia
The Turtle
Brownwood Regional Medical Center
The Sticks BBQ
Common Grounds Coffee House
Lemons BBQ
Section Hand
HPU’s Sodexo
In addition to funds raised at the event, the monies collected are able to be increased by the Feinstein Challenge. For 16 years in a row, Alan Shawn Feinstein has issued his one million dollar challenge to food pantries across the country to raise awareness for hunger. Feinstein puts up $1 million of his own money as a charge to these food pantries. The more money each pantry raises during March and April, the greater portion of the $1 million they are eligible to receive. Making every donation made for any of GSM’s three hunger ministries: Food Pantry, Food for thought and The Deer Project count even more during the months of March and April. Monetary donations count dollar for dollar and every food donation counts as either $1 per item or pound depending on which is greater.
Early students enjoy the event.
Picking a special bowl.
Residents of Oakridge Manor helped paint bowls and also attended the event.
Bostick and volunteers as the event kicked off.
Volunteers who served delicious soup and beans
