The holidays are almost here, and for many of us, they are filled with pleasant thoughts of mealtimes shared with friends and family, large tables filled with turkey, ham, bread, and a vast array of vegetables, casseroles, and desserts. For most of us, these are pleasant memories that date back to our childhood when we would gather with those we held dear to our hearts. Unfortunately, there are those in our very own community who will not have these fond childhood memories to carry with them throughout their lives because there are many families who may have no food at all on the holidays this year.
Our country is blessed with an abundance of food, and yet, across the country, there are men, women, and children who do not know where their next meal is coming from. And that is no different here in Kentucky. Although we live in a nation of plenty, here in Warren County, one in every eight adults and one in every seven children will face an empty bowl when looking for their next meal. Families across the country and here in our own community face difficult choices and often must sacrifice food to ensure their family has shelter or heat. And as a result, those families are faced with empty bowls at mealtime.
St. James United Methodist Church is working to assist some of the fine food pantries in our area which work diligently to see that food finds its way to those in need. On March 6, 2025, St. James will sponsor Bowling Green’s 12th 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 his students and other volunteers make ceramic bowls they donated. Next, they asked area restaurants and residents to donate soup, bread, and a simple dessert. Finally, they invited the public to a fundraising dinner. 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 the money raised was donated to local charities providing food to the needy.
We are continuing that tradition here in Bowling Green. Over the past 12 years, with the help of area potters, students, volunteers, businesses, and generous donations, Empty Bowls has helped provide food to thousands of families in our community who might otherwise have gone to bed hungry. Unfortunately, there are still hundreds of people in need in our community. St. James is asking you to join us in making Bowling Green’s 12th Annual Empty Bowls event an even bigger success.
If you make pottery or know someone who does, please consider making and donating some bowls for the event in March. Even one bowl can provide enough food to feed a family. Even if you’re not a potter, there are ways you can make a bowl to donate. You could take a class from The Pots Place, or at the Bob Kirby branch of the public library. Taking a class with friends would provide a chance to spend more time together, learn a new craft, and make a difference in the lives of others. If a pottery class wouldn’t work for you (maybe you don’t have the time, or simply don’t like the mess) you might consider decorating a piece to donate by going to The Paint’n Place. Instead of meeting friends for lunch or dinner for the holidays, perhaps you could arrange to meet there, making your holiday gathering all the more special by helping those in need. And if none of these work for you, there are other ways that you can help, whether volunteering in the Empty Bowls event, helping us spread the word, making a donation, or simply attending the big event on the night of March 6th.
The holidays are a wonderful time. Please consider helping make the holidays wonderful for everyone in our community. Help with Empty Bowls if you can, and please make donations to our local food pantries whenever you can. Our holidays are filled with stories of miracles that changed the world. This holiday, you can make a miracle, right here, in the lives of people in our community, by turning an empty bowl into food for the hungry. It’s easy to say, “I can’t change the world…”, but working together we can end hunger – one bowl at a time.
If you would like more information 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.
-by Garry Taylor, Empty Bowls
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