Media

Local artists’ donated bowls will serve as a reminder of the ‘empty bowls’ across the Ozarks

SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest and Panera Bread are partnering together for Empty Bowls, an event offering a basic meal of soup and bread — and a bowl created by a local artist — in exchange for cash donations to the regional food bank on Friday, Nov. 7 from 5 to 8 p.m.

“Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement to help fight hunger, with a simple concept. Guests who donate are asked to keep their selected bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in their community, and the money raised of course helps feed families and seniors in need,” said OFH Development Director Denise Gibson.

The opportunity is for the first 100 guests who join Ozarks Food Harvest and Panera in the parking lot to the south of the Panera Bread café on the corner of National and Elm, at 500 S. National Ave.

When donors give $50 or more, they can select a hand-carved wooden bowl; for $10 or more, donors can choose a studio-made pottery piece; and for a gift of just $5 or more, donors can take home a child artist creation.

“We’re thrilled that our long-time supporter, Panera Bread, is working with us on this unique awareness event,” said Gibson. “The event also falls during First Friday Art Walk, so we hope to see the crowd and provide them with soup and art before they move on further downtown.”

Bowls of various mediums and sizes were donated by local artists, including wooden bowls created by Mike Ilkiw, BowlsForBreasts.com; Jim Johnston, Woods & Wool; Dan McKinzie, As The Wood Turns; Ann Marie Rausch, AM Designs; and John Taliaferro, John T Woodworks. Pottery bowls were donated by Sherri Alexander, Full Circle Pottery;

Jaymee Bohannon; Nicole Chapman; Field Elementary fourth graders and the Springfield Pottery Claymobile; David Hoover, Full Circle Pottery; Bari Precious, Precious Pots LLC; Barbara Radovanovich of Sunshine Pottery; Jerry Roberts, L&R Specialties/Claydog Products LLC; and Desiree Young, Good Shepherd Pottery and Paintings. Papier-mâché bowls made by Jamie Diamond & family stoneware with drawings created by United Way Day of Caring volunteers.

The last Empty Bowls event for OFH was in 2003. For questions about the event, contact OFH Event Coordinator Madeline Brown at (417) 865-3411.

# # #

About Ozarks Food Harvest—The Food Bank
Ozarks Food Harvest is the Feeding America food bank for southwest Missouri, serving 200 organizations across 28 Ozarks counties. The Food Bank distributes 12.5 million meals — or more than 15 million pounds — annually to more than 260,000 unduplicated individuals. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.