Some of the best memories of summer are often memories of time spent with friends and family. We remember those picnics in the park, cookouts in the back yard with hot dogs and hamburgers, and barbecues at a friend’s house with ribs and pulled pork. Happy times and great meals that make your mouth water just thinking about them. But some of our friends and neighbors are missing out on these great moments.
Our nation is blessed. The recent pandemic served as a reminder that we all tend to take many of our blessings for granted. As a nation, we have an abundance of food and resources and most of us can easily get the things we need. The pandemic gave us a brief look at what it might be like if that were not the case and even basic things like toiletries were in short supply. As the pandemic begins to ease and things begin to return to normal, it is a relief for most of us to know that once again, food and other basic necessities are readily available. We are blessed.
But not all of us share in that blessing. Even though America has an abundance of food, all across our country, including right here in Warren County, one in every six men, women and children do not know where their next meal is coming from. For them, rather than having fun meals with friends and family, they are going to bed hungry. And while many children look forward to summertime, for some in our community it is a hardship, as the only meal they may get is a meal at school.
The people missing meals are children, who are the source of our hopes and the foundation upon which our future rests; senior citizens who spent their lives working to build our great nation, who now live on fixed incomes and face difficult choices; single moms and dads struggling to make ends meet; and hard-working families working to make the world better for those that they love. Across the country and across our own community our friends and neighbors face difficult choices and sometimes must sacrifice food to ensure their family has shelter, medicine and the care they need. As a result, they are far too often confronted by empty bowls at mealtime.
St. James United Methodist Church is working to assist some of the fine food pantries in our area that work diligently to see that food finds its way to those in need. On September 23, 2021, St. James will be sponsoring Bowling Green’s Ninth Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser, raising money to provide food to some of our area food pantries. Empty Bowls was an idea started by an art teacher in Michigan who wanted to get his students involved in making a difference in their community. His idea was to have students and volunteers make ceramic bowls that they donated. Next, they asked area restaurants and residents to donate soup, bread and a simple dessert. Finally, they had a fundraising dinner where the public was invited. For a small donation, each person got to select a bowl and was served a meal. The bowl was theirs to keep, and in addition to making a beautiful addition to their home, it served as a reminder that every day, there are those in our community facing empty bowls at mealtime. All money raised was donated to local charities providing food to those in need.
We are continuing that tradition here in Bowling Green by asking people in the community to help make the world a better place for our friends and neighbors in need. Help us as we prepare for the upcoming event. Consider taking part by making bowls to donate at the library or at one of the local studios like The Pots Place or True Fables Pottery. Or if you’d prefer something that isn’t as messy, you could paint a bowl at The Paint’n Place and donate the bowl to Empty Bowls. Plan a fun get-together with friends and family to make or decorate bowls and at the same time, make a difference for our friends and neighbors who otherwise might be facing an empty bowl at mealtime.
2020 may always be remembered as the year that the pandemic struck and changed the lives of everyone across the planet, but 2021 can be remembered as the year that we struck back and made the world a better place for those in need. Whether you make a bowl, volunteer at the event, make a donation, or simply come on the big night for a fun time of dining out, you can make the world a better place in 2021 for those in our community who could use a little help. So please, help with Empty Bowls and make a memory that you can share with future generations, a memory of how in 2021 you helped make the world a better place by working to end hunger – one bowl at a time.
If you would like more information about or are interested in participating in Empty Bowls, please visit the contact page at www.emptybowlsbg.com, or send an email to garry.taylor@emptybowlsbg.com.
-submitted by Garry Taylor
Empty Bowls Bowling Green
