Since 2013, the Arts Council has hosted the annual fundraiser 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 over 1,000 handmade bowls to the event with the purpose of “kids helping kids.” This year's event was held at Prosperity Bank - Bryan East on University Drive from 11am-2pm on Saturday, February 25. The Arts Council, Prosperity Bank, Taste of BCS, and Bryan Broadcasting welcomed more than 1,000 visitors and, with the help and support of the community, raised more than $11,000 for in-school food pantries and Arts Council programs.
Guests enjoyed surveying hundreds of beautifully artistic bowls, donating $10 for their favorites, and savoring delicious soup and bread provided by participating Taste of B/CS restaurants. This year’s Empty Bowls, Jr. did not disappoint with a new record of 900 bowls purchased!
Every year, the Arts Council and Empty Bowls, Jr. committee review applications for funding recipients. From the funds raised at the 2017 Empty Bowls, Jr. event, $5,638 will be awarded to A&M Consolidated High School, College Station High School, Project Hope with Bryan ISD, Oakwood Intermediate School, and Robertson County Care food pantries. This is a significant increase from last year’s $4,000 disbursement, which was issued to three local pantries.
Every year the event is a day of fun and goodwill, as kids are able to come together with the purpose of helping other kids. On behalf of the Arts Council, a special thank you goes out to the sponsors who helped make Empty Bowls, Jr. a success: Prosperity Bank, Bryan Broadcasting, Taste of B-CS, Texas Commercial Waste, Blue Baker, Cafe Eccell, Amico Nave, Shipwreck Grill, Casa Rodriguez, Carney’s Pub, Candy 95.1, Maverick 100.9, Peace 107.7, Willy 97.7, WTAW 1620, and The Zone 102.7.
For more information on Empty Bowls, Jr. and event photos, visit the Art Council’s new website at www.acbv.org or find them on Facebook.
About The Arts Council: For more than 45 years The Arts Council has served the community with one driving mission: to make the arts accessible to all residents and visitors of the Brazos Valley through funding, promotion, advocacy, professional development and partnership building programs. The Arts Council is a multifaceted organization supporting more than 65 affiliate arts, culture and heritage organizations, 300,000 residents in 7 counties, Texas A&M University, Blinn College and more than 3.5 million Brazos Valley regional visitors annually. The vision established by The Arts Council Board of Directors is focused on providing leadership by maintaining and strengthening an arts and culture–friendly community, making the quality of life in the Brazos Valley the best that the state has to offer.
