FAYETTEVILLE — Fayetteville potter and massage therapist Kelley Wilks brought the Northwest Arkansas Empty Bowls fundraiser to Fayetteville fi ve years ago.
She said she had been spurred on by the number of people in Northwest Arkansas displaced by Hurricane Katrina who were struggling to feed their families.
The Empty Bowls concept began in 1990 in Michigan when an art teacher was looking for a way for his students to make a diff erence. Artists contribute the bowls, area restaurants supply food and proceeds from ticket sales go to a local organization that helps the hungry.
Wilks’ group, the Boston Mountain Potters Association, is supplying approximately 400 bowls from which ticket holders will select to take home.
Proceeds will benefi t Life Source International’s food assistance programs. Food assistance comes in the form of a food pantry, regular hot lunches and dinners, food baskets and a feeding program for children in Guatemala.
Cecilia Smith, Life Source development director, said the nonprofi t organization is providing food assistance to approximately 1,200 families each month.
That number is up from 800 families a month in 2009.
Smith said the group spent more than $167,000 in 2009 to supplement itsfood programs.
Life Source also assists families in need through a number of other avenues, including adult education, programs for children and for senior citizens and medical referral.
The fifth annual benefi t is slated for Nov. 9 at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville with free parking in the church parking lot.
The $25 price of admission includes a handmade bowl and a selection of soupsfrom area restaurants.
Heinekin and St. John Winery have donated beverages that will be available for additional donations.
Participating restaurants include Café Rue Orleans, Nibble’s Academy of Cooking, Ella’s, Spiedini, North 40, Jose’s, Primo, Ozark Natural Foods, A Fare to Remember, Greenhouse Grille, Power-House Seafood, Bordinos and Hammontrees. Bread will be provided by Panera Bread and desserts are beingsupplied by Harps.
Wilks said she hopes the bowls people take home from the event will help remind everyone throughout the year of “all the empty bowls in our area and the world.”
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GO & DO
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS EMPTY BOWLS
To Benefit: Life Source International
Hosted By: Boston Mountain Potters Association
When: 6 p.m. Nov. 9
Where: St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Fayetteville (free parking)
Attire: Casual Tickets: $20 prior to Nov. 2, $25 after
Information: 521-4000 or 200-3958
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BOSTON MOUNTAIN POTTERS ASSOCIATION
Meets: 6 p.m., second Thursdays, Fayetteville Underground Annual holiday sale: Nov. 19-21, Mount Sequoyah
Information: 751-3838
LIFE SOURCE INTERNATIONAL
www.lifesourceinternational.org
Information: 521-4000
SOURCE: STAFF REPORT
Our Town, Pages 11 on 10/31/2010