GAINESVILLE - The Georgia Mountain Food Bank's annual Empty Bowl luncheon brings hundreds together to raise dollars and awareness for hunger in north Georgia.
The annual event had a live auction, community awards and special remarks by Bill Bolling, the founder of Atlanta Community Food Bank.
The food bank says that one in five Georgians are food insecure, meaning they don't always know where they will find their next meal. Georgia Mountain Food Bank's Annual Empty Bowl Lunch is a community tradition and fundraiser to help address hunger, health and quality of life throughout GMFB's five county service area of Hall, Dawson, Forsyth, Lumpkin and Union counties.
Chairman of the Board for the Georgia Mountain Food Bank, Kevin Price, says that the event does two things for the GMFB.
"It raises the awareness of the need in the 5 counties that we serve, and it, very frankly, helps us raise money that we turn into food that feeds hungry people."
A major goal of Empty Bowl each year is to raise awareness of the need to "fill bowls" with food. Each person in attendance of the lunch took home a hand-painted pottery bowl that was been donated by various members of the community and local artists.
There also were bowls that were hand-painted by celebrities such as Zell and Shirley Miller, coaches and players from the Atlanta Falcons, and University of Georgia Football alumni that were auctioned off.
Katie Dubnik, Executive Board Member for Empty Bowl, says the bowls are reminders for the north Georgia community to remember the need to fill the bowls of those in need.
"The empty bowls signify the empty bowls that need to be filled. Not everybody's bowl is filled all year round, every meal. Those bowls represent that. The idea is that all throughout the year, that message is able to be shared throughout the community through bowl painting parties."
One ticket purchased by guests, which was $25 dollars, represents 125 meals that go to the community.
For more information about how to get involved in the fight against hunger, visit the Georgia Mountain Food Bank's web page.
