The Arts Council hosted its sixth year of Empty Bowls, Jr. in an effort to raise funding and awareness for local in-school food pantries. This year, students and teachers from more than 25 Brazos Valley schools donated more than 1,000 handmade bowls to the event with the purpose of “kids helping kids.” This year's event was held at Allen Honda in College Station from 11am to 1:30pm on Saturday, March 3. The Arts Council, Allen Honda, Bryan Broadcasting, Taste of BCS, and other participating restaurants welcomed more than 2,000 visitors and, with the help and support of the community, raised more than $13,500 for in-school food pantries and Arts Council at-risk youth art programs. Guests enjoyed surveying hundreds of beautifully artistic bowls, donating $10 for their favorites, and savoring delicious soup and bread provided by participating local restaurants. New to this year's event, were five celebrity bowls created by Benjamin Knox, Janene Pratt, Jesse Montelongo, and the owners of Fish Daddy’s and Christopher’s World Grille and their children. This year’s Empty Bowls, Jr. event set a record for the amount raised for this cause.
Each year The Arts Council and Empty Bowls, Jr. committee review applications for funding recipients. From the funds raised at the 2018 Empty Bowls, Jr. event, $6,784 will be awarded to food pantries at A&M Consolidated High School, College Station High School, Oakwood Intermediate School, Project Hope (serves Bryan ISD & Rudder High), and Robertson County Care (serves Franklin ISD). This is a significant increase from last year’s $5,500 disbursement and will make a significant impact to those pantries.
Every year the event is a day of fun and goodwill, as Brazos Valley youth come together with the purpose of helping other kids.
For more information on Empty Bowls, Jr. and event photos, visit The Art Council’s website at www.acbv.org.
