Empty Bowls finishes out Hunger Action Month with record $7,440 in donations
Third annual fundraiser provides 37,200 meals through purchase of 220 handcrafted bowls
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Artists and community members came together last Friday for the most successful Empty Bowls yet. The third annual fundraiser held at Panera Bread on South Campbell raised $7,440, selling all 220 handcrafted bowls donated by nearly 60 local artists.
The empty bowls are symbolic of the one in six adults and one in four children who struggle with hunger in the Ozarks.
“Thanks to all the artists who donated bowls and community members who made donations to take them home, and special thanks to Panera for hosting the event for a third year,” said Denise Gibson, director of development and communication at Ozarks Food Harvest. “This grassroots fundraiser has made such a difference for people in need.”
Event-goers made donations to receive a handcrafted bowl and a meal of soup and bread, courtesy of Panera.
The bowls donated by local artists were made from 21 varieties of wood, hand-thrown pottery and even marble and gourd.
Since 2014, Empty Bowls has collected over $14,000 in donations, providing over 70,200 meals through Ozarks Food Harvest’s feeding programs.
Empty Bowls was the final major event of Hunger Action Month, a month-long awareness campaign held every September when Ozarks Food Harvest encourages community members to take a stand against hunger. Hunger Action Month is part of a nationwide campaign across the Feeding America food bank network.
“This year’s Hunger Action Month was our most successful yet. We set record fundraising totals with all our major events, and engaged more people than ever in our mission,” said Gibson. “We can’t wait for next year.”
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About Ozarks Food Harvest — The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving more than 200 organizations across 28 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank provides 14.6 million meals annually to more than 260,000 unduplicated individuals. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.