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SPRINGFIELD, Mo.— Ozarks Food Harvest and Panera Bread are partnering for Empty Bowls, an event offering a bowl handcrafted by a local artist — and a meal of soup and bread — in exchange for cash donations to the regional food bank from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25.

Nearly 50 artists have donated more than 250 bowls for the event. Attendees will be able to choose from bowls made from 19 different varieties of wood, as well as hand-thrown pottery bowls, and even bowls crafted by Springfield elementary and college students.

“Empty Bowls is a simple concept that makes a big impact. Area artists donated beautiful handcrafted bowls that will serve as a reminder that hunger is an issue that we must work together to end,” said OFH Development & Communication Director Denise Gibson. “At Ozarks Food Harvest, our mission is to Transform Hunger into Hope. The Empty Bowls event will allow us to feed more children, families and seniors in the Ozarks, while also raising awareness of the critical issue of hunger in southwest Missouri.”

The first 150 guests who make a donation to Ozarks Food Harvest will receive soup and bread, courtesy of Panera. This year’s Empty Bowls event will take place in the parking lot in front of the Panera Bread café located at 2924 E. Sunshine St. in Springfield. Each bowl has a suggested donation price between $10 and $50. There will also be several wood bowls available through a silent auction.

“Thanks to our long-time supporter Panera Bread, and the generous donation of soup and bread, we know this year’s event will be a great success,” said Gibson.

Bowls of various mediums and sizes were donated by local artists, including wooden bowls created by Ben Alexander, Ben & Chan Wood Art Studios; Helen Beeman; Russ Berquam; Arthur Cowger; Susan Dollar; Terry Fecho; David Van Giesen, DVG’s Man Cave; Mark Hannum; Jim Heck; Stan Horsch; Mike Ilkiw, BowlsForBreasts.com; Pete Kuzks; Ernest Lorenc, Wood Originals; Larry Ludke, Your Turn; Dan McKinzie, As The Wood Turns; Richard Moist; Don Nelson; David Pettibone, Rottenpots Woodturning; Larry Randolph, President of the Woodturners; Michael Subblett; John Trainer, Tick Rock Woodturner Studio; Darrell West; Larry Wolfe; and Brian Woosley. Pottery bowls were donated by Kathlene (Kat) Allie and Cathy Clemens, Ozarks Technical Community College professors and their students; Kris Clement, Clement Clayworks; Keith Ekstam, Missouri State University professor and his students; Missouri State University Students, Ozarks Technical Community College students, Jennifer Farr, J. Rae Pottery; David Schuh; Lane Simmons and Mitch Yung, Evangel University professors; and Field Elementary fourth graders and the Springfield Pottery Claymobile. A painted bowl was donated by Ann Marie Rausch, AM Designs.

For questions about the event, contact OFH’s Christine Temple at (417) 865-3411 or ctemple@ozarksfoodharvest.org.

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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 13.6 million meals annually to more than 260,000 unduplicated individuals. Learn more at ozarksfoodharvest.org, facebook.com/ozarksfoodharvest or twitter.com/ozksfoodharvest.