Empty Bowl luncheon to help food bank feed those in need

Steaming bowls of soup will help nourish Westmoreland County residents struggling with hunger at the 10th annual Empty Bowl luncheon.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 4 at Hempfield Area High School.

The volunteer-run luncheon not only raises funds for the Westmoreland County Food Bank, but it also is meant to raise awareness of local needs and alert the community that hunger doesn’t disappear with the holidays whencharitable giving peaks.

“If you don’t need the food bank, you don’t realize what the face of hunger looks like,” said Kris Douglas, food bank CEO

Empty Bowl luncheons became popular nationally in the 1990s. Guests leave with their own handcrafted empty ceramic bowl — usually donated by local potters — to symbolize the unfilled bowls facingmany families.

Karen Piper of North Huntingdon came up with the idea forthe local event more than 10 years ago while awaiting a hearttransplant.

“Once she got her heart, my mom spun this as her way to give back to the community,” said her son, Tim Piper of Dormont. Mr. Piper now serves as co-director of the luncheon along with Crystal Szogi of Export.

Raisingmore than $135,000 for the food bank since its beginning – and about $16,000 yearly – the event is a collaborative effort among artists, students, restaurants and other businesses. Mr. Piper said he and approximately 100 volunteers are expecting to serve about 1,000 people, eachpaying a $15 donation.

Patrons will select from traditional soups as wedding and chicken noodle to more unique fare as last year’s jalapeno mac and cheese. Diners will select from a collection of about 1,500 ceramic one-of-akind bowls to take home — a reminder of the more than 31,000hungry in the county.

“We rely heavily on donations that events like Empty Bowl bring in,” Mr. Douglas said. “This event has been a godsend.”