Empty Bowls Benefit for the Hungry and Homeless

“Empty Bowls,” Saturday, March 7, is for the whole family and the whole community – to have fun together as we help to eliminate hunger and homelessness.  Come when you wish between 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. at Menomonie Middle School, 920 21^st St., Menomonie. Come to the event and enjoy a Homemade Soup & Bread Meal, a Silent Art Auction, and local entertainment.   Come view displays.  Come write a letter to enlist government help for hungry people.   Bring the children – activities are planned for them.

 Regional artists -- professional potters and UW-Stout art students - have created and plan to contribute over 600 bowls.  Each person that attends Empty Bowls will receive one of the artistic bowls along with their meal for a donation of $15.00.  The suggested donation for those receiving the soup & bread meal without a ceramic bowl is $5.00.

The Homemade Soup and Bread Meal will feature both old favorites and new tasty soups.  Many varieties of breads are being sought.  To donate, call Rose Studebaker, 235-3409.

    The local groups to benefit from the "Empty Bowls” are the Interfaith Food Pantry, the House of Hope and Menomonie Area Bread for the World.   The goal is to raise $6,000 from donations for the meal and the art auction. 

    The Silent Art Auction will feature all kinds of pottery and art items made by local artists.   A group of the art items will go to the highest bidders each hour. To donate, contact Interfaith Volunteers, 235-2920 or ivdc@wwt.net.

    “Making It Through the Month Maze” and “ A 17 Cents Meal” are two of the new activities that will be led by Menomonie Middle School Students.   Menomonie High School Students will lead a “Who’s Got the Cheese Display”. The local MOMS Group will lead children’s activities, including “Hands of Hope,” Grinding Corn, and a Refugee Site.

     The Refugee Site at “Empty Bowls” will be an exciting educational place.   Visitors will be able to sit in the refugee shelter, taste “Nan” survival biscuits, and view actual food packages and health kits given to disaster victims

    Menomonie Area Bread for the World and Menomonie Middle School Student Council sponsor “Empty Bowls.”   Menomonie Area Bread for the World is a Christian citizen’s movement of the Menomonie Area that works for legislation to eliminate causes of hunger and gives support to the Interfaith Food Pantry and the House of Hope.

     The Interfaith Food Pantry and the House of Hope are programs of Interfaith Volunteers of Dunn County, 1920 S. Broadway, Menomonie.  The Interfaith Food Pantry is a source of food and personal care items for people of Dunn County with emergency needs.  The House of Hope is a shelter in Menomonie that provides short-term housing for the homeless of Dunn County.

    “Empty Bowls” will be our kick-off for Bread for the World’s 2009 Offering of Letters Campaign to encourage our national legislators to reform foreign aid so that it is more helpful for the world’s poorest people.  People will be able to write their own letters and/or receive an Offering of Letters Kit for their congregation or group.

For more information, contact Julie McNaughton, Coordinator of Menomonie Area Bread for the World, at 235-9377 or mcnaughtond@uwstout.edu.