The United Food Bank and Services of Plant City (UFB) held the annual Empty Bowls Project at Robert W. Willaford Railroad Museum and McCall Park in downtown Plant City on Saturday. The event began in 2010, and is held every second Saturday in November. Tickets for the event cost $10 each, and 500 people showed up for it. Reverend Robert Olszewski from Gracepoint Plant City offered the opening prayer. Silvia Dodson, UFB Board Member, has chaired the Project from the beginning, and has led this year’s installment to another success.
“It was a great event and the weather was perfect!” Mary Heysek, President and CEO of UFB, said.
UFB started the Empty Bowls Project to bring attention to Plant City that people in our area suffer from hunger. For Empty Bowls, local artists, groups, the YMCA, students from 23 Plant City area elementary, middle, and high schools, and churches served by the food bank hand-made colorful bowls, then donated them. These bowls were displayed during the event.
Twenty-one chefs from various local churches and civic organizations made and served simple meals to those who purchased tickets. Each ticket was good for a choice from a variety of soups, stews, or mac and cheese for kids. Options were for one 16-oz. soup of choice, or two 8-oz. soups, or a flight with four 4-oz. soups. Also included were bread, an apple, water, and a choice of student-made clay bowls to take home as a reminder that some bowls in our community are empty.
“We were blessed with beautiful, sunny and breezy weather—perfect for being outdoors enjoying the entertainment and delicious and healthy soups made by chefs in local churches, restaurants, and organizations for the meaningful fundraiser that benefits the United Food Bank and Services in Plant City,” Dodson said. “A spirit of giving was felt and everyone helped each other.”
During the browsing and eating, live jazz and popular music played from the City of Plant City’s new portable stage. The Plant City Community Chorale sang patriotic songs for Veteran’s Day. A live auction gave those in the crowd a chance to bid on the bowls made by local artists. The event raised $30,000. All proceeds benefited UFB.
The mission of the UFB is to provide assistance for the needy in moving them from a “state of hunger” and “impoverishment” to self-sufficiency, empowerment and self-reliance. The 501(c)3’s philosophy is, “A Hand Up, Not a Hand Out!” The vision of UFB is to stamp out hunger in East Hillsborough County and raise the standard of living for the truly needy. Offering opportunities for self improvement, education, job skills, and enhancing life for individuals and families; and so effecting change for the community.
To this end, UFB provides food directly to clients in the community through its Feeding Our Community program, with on-site daily food distribution, and off-site in-need neighborhood outreach. Clients receive a box of food once every two weeks. Last year the food bank provided food for 152,607 people, and 60,147 services to families.
Through a $2 million grant from the State of Florida, procured through the work of Danny Burgess, State Senator, District 23, and Lawrence McClure, State Representative, District 68, UFB has been able to move forward to complete a new facility on Alsobrook Street. The target move-in is January.