When we were young, many of us enjoyed playing superhero – at least at Halloween. We would pin on our capes, slip on a mask and fly out into the world to right wrongs, wherever they might be. But as we got older, our super-powers got smaller and the wrongs of the world seemed to get larger. Poverty, despair, hunger – these are problems we’re all aware of, but to many of us, they are simply too big. “It’s too big! I can’t fix it…” we say to ourselves. And so the problem grows larger, and we feel smaller. It’s very easy, especially as an adult, to adopt a mentality of, “It’s me against the world.” It’s a notion that gets ingrained into us early on, both in school and as we enter into the job market. We are encouraged to think that we have to depend solely on our own selves and our own resources to solve whatever problems we are confronted with. This last year has added to our sense of isolation. It has made each of us feel a bit smaller, like we are unable to stop the problems of the world, and the only thing we can do is try to save ourselves.
But here’s the thing: we are not all alone. We are not powerless. And the rest of the world isn’t waiting to get us, it’s waiting to help us – if we join in. The answer to tackling the world’s problems has been in front of us our entire lives. We see examples of it every day, even in our day-to-day lives, but we take it for granted. The first moon landing, the interstate highway system, the Empire State Building, the Pyramids – these were all huge tasks and they weren’t solved by one individual with amazing powers and talents. No one person could have accomplished any of these. These enormous tasks all have one thing in common – they could only be solved by people working together, people like you and me, contributing what skills they had to offer.
The secret is that each and every one of us can make a difference. No contribution is too small or too unimportant, so long as we are working together toward a common goal. Neal Armstrong may have taken that first small step, but he could not have gotten there to take that step without the work and dedication of thousands of others who each did their small part toward solving a problem that was far too big for any one person. When we work together, no problem is too big.
Hunger is a big problem in our country. Recent studies indicate that about one in every six people across America do not know where their next meal is coming from. And even worse, that number is one in every five for children. These are our neighbors, schoolmates, co-workers and friends. These children are our future. They are all people just like you and me, working as best they can to provide for themselves and their families. But the problems have grown too big for some of them to deal with on their own. Rising costs, medical bills and unemployment mean that some of these families have to choose between having a roof over their heads or having a meal. Working on their own, they make the best choices they can, but the problem is too big for them to solve alone. They need help. They need a hero.
And that is where you come in. You can make a difference – you can be a superhero. St. James United Methodist Church is organizing Bowling Green’s Ninth Annual Empty Bowls Event to be held on September 23, and we invite you to help us, as we join together to make a difference in our community. For the last several months we have been inviting people in our community to make pottery bowls to donate to the event. In addition, we have asked local restaurants and chefs to provide us with soup and other food for the event. Already we have been impressed by what can be done when the community works together, but now it is time for the last few steps, and that’s where you can make a difference. On September 23rd, the Ninth Annual Empty Bowls event will be at the Sloan Convention Center in Bowling Green. At 5pm we will be opening the doors and inviting the public to join us for a special evening to help end hunger in our community. We are asking that each adult attending make a minimum $15 donation. And as our way of saying thank you, each person attending will get to select the handmade ceramic bowl of their choice and will be served a meal of soup, a beverage and dessert. All of the money donated will be given to area food pantries: Manna Mart, run by HOTEL INC; and the Synergy Center, run by Warren County Schools. The bowl you choose is yours to keep, and in addition to being a beautiful addition to your home, it serves as a reminder that there are still friends and neighbors right here in Warren County facing empty bowls at mealtime. It also is a reminder to you that you made a difference in someone’s life.
For a year we have all been hiding from the problems of the world. But now is your chance to step out and make a difference in the lives of those in our community who need our help.
So if you can, please plan on attending the Ninth Annual Empty Bowls Event at the Sloan Convention Center on September 23rd. For a small donation, you will get a fine meal, a beautiful bowl and a fun night out, but more importantly, you will provide food for an entire family that otherwise might be forced to go to bed hungry. If you can, please take a little time and spend just a little money to make a miracle happen right here in our own community. Be a hero. Be a “souper” hero. You can make a difference. Help us feed the hungry – one bowl at a time.
The Sloan Convention Center is located at 1021 Wilkinson Trace. We will have hundreds of handmade bowls which will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. The event will begin at 5pm and will run until 8pm or until we run out of bowls, whichever comes first. If you would like more information or would like to contribute, you can contact us via the “Contact” page on our website at http://www.emptybowlsbg.com or by email at garry.taylor@emptybowlsbg.com. Even if you cannot attend, please help us out by spreading the word of the event to your friends and families – by working together, we can each make a difference by doing what we can to help.
-by Garry Taylor
Empty Bowls of Bowling Green
