Fighting Hunger One Bowl At a Time

As the recession continues to affect families financially, the Empty Bowls Project of Glendora is aiming to raise more money to help fight community hunger at the effort’s upcoming fundraiser at First Christian Church.

Over the last month, local potters young and old have been making handmade ceramic bowls for the project's fundraising event, this Friday, March 11 at First Christian Church, 300 N. Glendora Ave., from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

For $15, participants at the event can select from 1,000 handmade bowls made by 45 Citrus College students and enjoy soup donated by 15 community restaurants.

Proceeds from the event will go toward Shepherd’s Pantry, St. Vincent De Paul and the Empty Bowls Voucher Program by the Glendora Police Department.

 “It’s an event that draws attention to the issue of hunger and make people more aware of those in,” said Karen Davis, city council member and pastor at First Christian Church.

Since 2003, the church and the ceramics department of Citrus College – along with participation from the Glendora Police Department— have coordinated the event.  

Over the years, Lynn Hendricks, director of the Fine Arts Academy at First Christian Church, has seen the impact the Empty Project has had on the community.

The voucher program with the police department allows officers to hand out food vouchers to people they come across in the field who may be in immediate of food.

“Sometimes they’ll come across homeless people, or families who have been evicted from their home without knowing where they’re going to go,” said Hendricks. “A food voucher can get them read-made food, especially when they don’t have pots or pans, or a place to cook their food.”

In 2010, the Empty Bowls Project raised $13,000 to give to people in immediate financial assistance.

A few of those people included a family that had fallen in desperate financial hardship, remembers Hendricks.

“The grandfather was a truck driver, and with gas prices rising, he let his health insurance lapse,” said Hendricks. “When it rains it pours…he was diagnosed with brain cancer and his son began having problems with substance abuse. They also began looking after their grandchildren on some days, but they couldn’t afford to buy meals for themselves. The grandparents would take their grandchildren to Costco to have lunch on the free samples they give out. We were able to give them some immediate assistance so they could afford real meals.”

While relief from the economic doldrums may not be in the near future for many families, Hendricks said the Empty Bowls Project is doing its part to help those severely affected.

For more information on the Empty Bowls Project, visit their Web site.