South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Sunday)
Fill empty bowls to help Palm Beach County Food Bank
“Eat simply, so others can simply eat” is the invitation from Empty Bowls, a national grassroots event that raises money for hunger relief, for its fourth annual Delray Beach on Sunday, Dec. 8 to benefit the Palm Beach County Food Bank.
Supporters will line up for a meal of water, bread provided by Old School Bakery and soup made by 30 local chefs served by community leaders and celebrities. Everyone gets to take home their bowl to serve as a reminder that “in an area that has unbelievable wealth, it’s hard to imagine that one in six people in Palm Beach County is hungry,” event co-chairwoman and Delray Beach resident Marla Garchik said in a statement.
“Empty Bowls Delray Beach is an opportunity to support the Palm Beach County Food Bank, which provides food to more than 200 local community partners, including food pantries, soup kitchens and residential housing programs,” she said.
Event co-chairwoman Stephanie Dodge said last year’s event saw a recordbreaking 1,000 people come out to support the cause.
“The Palm Beach County Food Bank provides access to nutritious food for more than 100,000 hungry Palm Beach County residents every month,” Karen Erren, executive director of Palm Beach County Food Bank, said in a statement.
The Empty Bowls kick-off took place Oct. 23 at the home of Delray Beach residents Josh and Kate Littlefield. Guests got a first glimpse of the handpainted bowls available for purchase.
Then, on Nov. 5, the Friends of the Palm Beach County Food Bank, hosts Shelley and Craig Menin and 100 supporters gathered at the Cornell Museum in Old School Square for a silent auction of the bowls to help raise funds for hunger relief.
Empty Bowls attendees may purchase additional bowls created by local artists, residents and students from American Heritage, Florida Atlantic University, Gulf Stream, Palm Beach State College, Pine Crest, Saint Andrews, Art Sea Living and St. Joseph’s Episcopal School.
According to the Palm Beach County Food Bank, it gathers 5 million pounds of food every year from grocery stores, restaurants, food distributors, wholesalers and other sources with its programs reaching families, children and seniors.
The fourth annual Empty Bowls Delray Beach will take place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. today at the Old School Square Pavilion, 51 N. Swinton Ave. Call 561-670-2518. To purchase tickets, visit oldschoolsquare.org /events/4th-annual-empty-bowls/.