University Presbyterian Church to host Empty Bowls event to Fight Hunger

Click Here to Download and Print the Empty Bowls Flyer (PDF)

TUSCALOOSA - University Presbyterian Church (UPC) will host Empty Bowls, a program designed to raise awareness about hunger, on Saturday, March 29, 2008, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the church.

In 1990 a high school art teacher in Michigan helped his students solve a problem. They were searching for a way to raise funds to support a food drive. What evolved was a class project to make ceramic bowls for a fund raising meal. Guests were served a simple meal of soup and bread, and were invited to keep the bowl as a reminder of hunger in the world.

Today, Empty Bowls events are held all over the United States. Thanks to the generous donation of more than 200 hand-crafted bowls from members of the Alabama Clay Conference (held February 8-10 on the University of Alabama campus this year), UPC will be able to sponsor Tuscaloosa's Empty Bowls event this year.

For a suggested donation of $10, those who attend the event will get to pick out one of the bowls to keep and receive a meal of soup and bread. All of the proceeds from the event will support the UPC Deacon's Food Pantry. The Food Pantry distributes food contributed by UPC's congregation and purchased from the West Alabama Food Bank. This important outreach program provides food for approximately 600 people every month.

Tickets to the event will be available in advance from UPC members and will also be available at the church, located at 1127 Eighth Street in Tuscaloosa. The church office is open Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets will also be available at the door starting at 10 a.m. on Saturday, March 29.

Empty Bowls is being sponsored by several locoal businesses including The Globe Restaurant, Jason's Deli, 15th Street Diner, Manna Grocery, Chuck's, Cypress Inn, and Publix.

For more information about the national Empty Bowls project, visit www.emptybowls.net or write to Empty Bowls at P.O. Box 1689, Burnsville, NC 28714. For more information about UPC and Tuscaloosa's Empty Bowls event, call (205) 758-5422.