03 Apr Donors buy empty bowls to help feed hungry BOERNE STAR
Artists create bowls, restaurants dish out tasty soups, breads for agency fundraiser
BY JEFF B. FLINN, Managing Editor
The sale of more than 300 clay and wooden bowls raised $10,500 during Feb. 17’s Empty Bowl Project distribution day.
Area artists donated their time and talent to create the 300 bowls that were sold for $25 each during the Hill Country Family Services empty bowl campaign. “It went absolutely fantastic,” Staci Almager, HCFS CEO, said of the event. “So many people were so delighted to be able to pick out a one-of-a-kind creation, knowing what their donations were going to do for others.”Almager said HCFS can turn around the $25 paid per bowl and feed a family in need. “With the $25, we’re able to feed a family for an entire week; their meat, their dairy, fresh fruits and vegetables, their household staples, laundry detergent, shampoo, all what a family facing food insecurity would need,” she said. Tickets for the event sold out prior to last Saturday’spick-up at First United Methodist Church. Bowls were placed on a dozen tables in the church’s family life center. Donors entered the room and browsed the tables, waiting to find the one crafted bowl that caught their eye. Almager said HCFS filled a grocery cart with the necessities a family of four would need to make it through a week. The cart was placed in an area where every passing donor could see exactly what their money would buy.People who were select- ing their bowls were complementing the variety and craftsmanship of the bowls. “The wooden bowls were a hot commodity. And there were artists there,” Almager said. “Artists were circling around where people were making the selection, and you would hear, ‘Oh, that’s my bowl. “After picking up their bowl, donors were able to enjoy any of the specialty soups and breads created for the day by about a dozen area restaurants. All the money raised “helps Hill Country Family Services to fulfill our mis- sion to serve the residents of Kendall County who are food insecure,” she said.