Soup’s on! Bring your family to the Empty Bowls Dinner

Just Harvest & the Food Bank’s Annual Event teaches children to give The 19th Annual Empty Bowls Dinner to benefit Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Just Harvest, a Center for Action against Hunger, will take place March 2 at Rodef Shalom Congregation, 4905 Fifth Avenue in Oakland. This event is a fundraiser for the two non-profit organizations that provide food assistance to those in our region who are struggling to feed themselves and their families.

The popular annual dinner is a fun, family-friendly event that promotes public awareness of the problem of hunger and food insecurity. For a $20 ticket, participants are served a “meager meal” of a bowl of soup and bread, to encourage them to reflect on the thousands of families in every part of our region who have “empty bowls.” Anyone can end up at a food pantry – job loss, medical crisis, or disaster sends many people who never imagined themselves needing help.

For families, Empty Bowls is a perfect opportunity to spend time together and learn about caring for others and fighting hunger. This year, Empty Bowls features numerous activities for children:

  • A bake sale sponsored by the children of Rodef Shalom
  • Entertainment by a magician and strolling musicians
  • Face painting
  • Appearances by local celebrities including sports stars
  • Balloon artists
  • An outdoor tent for ceramic “bowl-making” – kids can make a clay mask to bake at home

Empty Bowls is hosted by Larry Berger, creator and host of the Saturday Night Light Brigade, an award-winning public radio program for children and families. The soup is donated by area restaurants and will be served by local celebrities, including Mayor Peduto. Each ticket holder is also entitled to choose and take home a one-of-a-kind ceramic bowl from the 1200 that have been handcrafted and donated to Empty Bowls by a local artist or art student.

Tickets are available at the door at www.pittsburghfoodbank.org or www.justharvest.org

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