Tickets for the 2020 Empty Bowls of Owensboro event are now on sale. The organization has selected Feed a Friend as this year’s recipient of the event’s funds.
The annual fundraiser, which is part of a national initiative to feed the hungry, will take place 6 p.m., April 23 at Brescia University’s gymnasium, located inside the Moore Center at 717 Frederica Street.
The Empty Bowls Committee accepted applications from area soup kitchens and food pantries but ultimately chose Feed a Friend to receive the funds because of their reach and need.
Feed a Friend is the result of the evolution of a soup kitchen that originally took place at Journey Fellowship after the former church saw a need in the community. Currently, the organization is housed in the former Zion United Church of Christ and serves two meals a week; one on Wednesday night and one on Friday night.
“I became involved in the soup kitchen about seven years ago after I attended one of the meals and realized the organization was in need of someone with culinary and management skills,” said Alan Veach, Director. “The name was adopted from my brother responding to a ‘thank you’ from one of the attendees. He said, ‘We’re just here to feed a friend or two.’ We serve anyone who wants a warm meal, regardless of their circumstances. Among our guests are the elderly, the homeless, the low income and many others. “
Feed a Friend serves more than 10,000 people in the community annually through community dinners and also provides a food pantry that serves veterans in need.
The Veteran’s Pantry was the idea of Ann Irwin, a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. She is a navy vet and was helping with her church’s food pantry, but wanted to do more. She eventually became involved with Feed a Friend and the idea of a veteran’s food pantry was discussed. Though several veteran agencies in the area serve this need, Feed a Friend makes a point to keep supplies on hand to fill a box if it is requested.
Feed a Friend plans to use the proceeds from the event to purchase two new freezers and for electrical upgrades that are necessary to their facility to handle the additional power usage. They will also use funds for supplies and food needs, specifically paper products that allow those who attend the dinners to take home leftovers and for meals to be delivered to shut-ins. Any leftover funding will go towards their Christmas food basket efforts.
Currently, the organization is funded solely through weekly rummage sales and is not expecting any outside donations to go towards their expenses.
All proceeds from the event will go to Feed a Friend, including ticket sales, t-shirt sales and silent auction donations, thanks to the generosity of sponsors and in-kind donations. If your organization is interested in being a sponsor, contact Empty Bowls at [email protected].
Tickets for the event are currently on sale to the public and allows you to select a ceramic bowl from hundreds of handcrafted bowls made especially for this event by local artisans and students of Brescia University. A soup dinner is served as well.
A limited number of tickets are sold and they typically sell out prior to the event. Community members can purchase tickets at the following locations:
Brescia University Spirit Shop (located inside The Moore Center)
717 Frederica Street
David Lindow Allstate Agency
1210 Burlew Blvd., Ste A
iArt Studios
603 Park Plaza Drive
St. Joseph and Paul Parish Office
609 E. 4th Street
The committee is currently accepting donations of silent auction items and baskets from local businesses and individuals. If you are interested in donating or would like more information on Empty Bowls, please contact the committee at [email protected].
