News

Back to News

Empty Bowls project a big success at St. John

Dec 1, 2009

St. John Episcopal Church embarked upon a new project to feed the hungry through a community effort.
The church, under the leadership of Father Jeff Reich, conducted its first Empty Bowls event this week.
Pat Bailey, a member of St. John, said she had a vision to feed the hungry and through community support, the church was able to successfully conduct it’s first Empty Bowls.
Bailey said the project resulted in overwhelming support from people throughout the community.
“Everyone just pitched in and helped,” she said. “It’s truly been a great event designed to make a difference in the lives of people.”
Jones County Junior College, volunteers with the American Red Cross, along with numerous local businesses supported the effort, which was designed to raise money to feed people locally.
Bailey said the Empty Bowls project is a national grassroots crafts-based effort designed to help end hunger. Bailey said Byron Myrick an instructor at JCJC, along with some local volunteers helped to create 300 bowls for the project.
She said tickets sold for $15 and because of local support, they were sold out prior to the event.
According to a press release from JCJC, Sophomore JCJC student April Shelby of Florence spent three hours one Saturday morning with JCJC alumni Carl and Mandy Buchanan, Jason Wilson, Lonnie Meadows, Jean Jackson, Crista Nelson, JCJC faculty, Melanie Eubanks and Mark Brown, and potter Warren Wells, molding the bowls.
For a couple of months after the bowls were created, Myrick put on the finishing touches to complete the bowls.
Then volunteers from the church — with donations from local businesses made the chicken chili to put in the bowls.
Then, distribution day was Wednesday.
See Thursday’s edition of the Leader-Call for more information concerning the event.

Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.

Back to News