The Plant City community celebrated the successful conclusion of the Empty Bowls Project, an initiative aimed at raising awareness about hunger and poverty in the local area
Awareness wasn’t the only thing raised.
Proceeds from the event, from ticket sales, sponsorships and the live auction, totaled approximately $40,000, which the United Food Bank of Plant City (UFBPC) will use to help alleviate hunger in the community.
The warm day didn’t deter attendees from enjoying bowls of delicious soup donated by local chefs, enjoying live entertainment and art.
Local artists transformed downtown’s sidewalks. Janet Tombros completed a sidewalk art piece featuring a mouse holding a bowl surrounded by strawberries in front of the train station that has a 3D element to it. She encourages residents to try to snap a selfie in front of the chalk art. “Stand by the first strawberry on the bottom right side of the mouse and when the sun is at the right angle for shadow, reach down with your palm up and it’ll look like you’re grabbing for the bowl,” she said.
Artist Shanna Tvenstrup brought a homeschool art group to also work on sidewalk chalk pieces. She hopes their art pieces stay on the sidewalk for visitors to see. “We spray them with hairspray when we’re finished and because we’re using high-end pastels they’ll have to pressure wash these off,” she said.
UFBPC Executive Director Mary Heysek was grateful for the entire community that helped make the event a success, including sponsors, organizations that made the soup and volunteers. “Each committee member has a huge heart and passion for our community,” she said. “Our community is a great one.”
Local artists transformed downtown’s sidewalks. Janet Tombros completed a sidewalk art piece featuring a mouse holding a bowl surrounded by strawberries in front of the train station that has a 3D element to it. She encourages residents to try to snap a selfie in front of the chalk art. “Stand by the first strawberry on the bottom right side of the mouse and when the sun is at the right angle for shadow, reach down with your palm up and it’ll look like you’re grabbing for the bowl,” she said.
Artist Shanna Tvenstrup brought a homeschool art group to also work on sidewalk chalk pieces. She hopes their art pieces stay on the sidewalk for visitors to see. “We spray them with hairspray when we’re finished and because we’re using high-end pastels they’ll have to pressure wash these off,” she said.
UFBPC Executive Director Mary Heysek was grateful for the entire community that helped make the event a success, including sponsors, organizations that made the soup and volunteers. “Each committee member has a huge heart and passion for our community,” she said. “Our community is a great one.”