Sixth annual Empty Bowls Clarksville expands Hope Not Hunger fundraiser to six congregations in 2014.
Clarksville, TN – The problems associated with hunger and food insecurity are not confined to the nation’s largest cities. With over seventeen percent of Clarksville residents living below the poverty level, hunger and food insecurity are a harsh reality for many people in our community.
That means that hundreds of working adults, children and seniors in our community struggle with hunger every day. Food insecurity refers to the availability of food and access to it. Those who are considered food insecure do not know when they will have their next meal.
The increasing cost of living coupled with the downturn in the economy has forced a growing numbers of the middle class to utilize emergency food assistance.
About 70 percent of those who request help with food have income, but many are working minimum wage jobs or have part-time employment.
Empty Bowls Clarksville now in its sixth year addresses some of the most basic needs in our community. The annual event raises funds to support two local organizations: Loaves and Fishes and Urban Ministries Grace Assistance Food Pantry.
More than 500 individuals visit the Urban Ministries Food pantry each month. Each food box given to a family provides three meals a day for five days- a total of 7500 meals every month for families in need. And, from January through October of 2013, Loaves and Fishes served more than 43,000 meals and also distributed food to 29 local agencies to support community programs.
Coming together as a community to help feed our hungry neighbors is at the heart of Empty Bowls. It is a grass roots opportunity that brings art and humanity together for a cause. The basic premise is simple: Potters and other craftspeople, educators and others work with the community to create handcrafted bowls.
Guests are invited to a simple meal of soup and bread. In exchange for a $15.00 cash donation, guests are asked to select a bowl as a reminder of all the empty bowls in our community. All proceeds help local hunger efforts.
Lunch will be served from 11:00am-1:00pm. Dinner will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church from 4:30pm-7:00pm.
Tickets can be purchased from any host congregation or at Sango Pharmacy, 2197 Madison Street or Watchtower Self Storage, 2430 Madison Street. Tickets will be on sale through February 22nd, 2013. No ticket sales at the door.
For more information visit www.emptybowlsclarksville.org , call 931.551.5450 or visit Facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/emptybowlsclarskville/
Interested in painting a bowl to donate to the Empty Bowl Clarksville project or purchasing tickets to the February event? Call 931.551.5450 or email emptybowlsclarksville@gmail.com.
