Care Center Empty Bowls Event Jan. 26 to Benefit Hunger Relief

To make people more aware about hunger at home and around the world the Lake Wales Care Center will hold its annual Empty Bowls Auction and Reception, starting at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26.

The event is free and attendees can taste local soups and bid on bowls hand-painted by local artists and community "celebrities." It will take place outdoors and indoors at the Lake Ashton Clubhouse. Social distancing and masks are required.

Empty Bowls is a nationwide program begun in 1990 by an art teacher wanting to teach his students about community involvement. The basic idea for Empty Bowls is simple - participants paint beautiful ceramic bowls that are then auctioned off at the event.

Guests come to the event and bid on a bowl to keep as a reminder that there are always Empty Bowls in the world. In exchange for a soup meal and the bowl, the guest gives their bid donation to the Care Center to help fight hunger.

From 5:30 to 7 p.m. the event features silent and live auctions, soup tasting and live entertainment. The live auction is scheduled for 6 p.m. and the silent auction featuring bowls by local artists closes at 6:45 p.m.

In addition to the auction of "celebrity" bowls, participants can pay a fixed price of $5 to $15 to take home a specialty bowl as a reminder to pray for those with Empty Bowls. Various sizes are available.

Care Center Hunger Relief Programs include:

Food Pantry & Basic Needs – Each week nearly 90 families come to Care Center for assistance. Caseworkers interview with the families in order to assess their current needs. Care Center provides tangible resources such as FOOD, clothing, furniture, household items, and equipment, etc. We are also able to provide financial help with rent/mortgage, utilities, Rx, gas, and lodging.

Holiday Assistance – FOOD BASKETS are provided at special times of the year for local families who work hard throughout the year to make ends meet. Food drives help stock our Food Pantry with enough food to fill these baskets.

Meals On Wheels – provides one well-balanced noon MEAL each weekday to area shut-ins. Meals are prepared daily by the Lake Wales Medical Center and delivered to the recipients' homes by volunteer drivers.

Transitional Housing – Providing a safe environment for families or individual to get "back on their feet." A real hand up and not just a handout. Stabilizing families and keeping them HEALTHY in mind, body and spirit.

For more information, email jolee.lwcc@gmail.com or call 863-676-6678, ext. 1303 or go to https://lakewalescarecenter.com/emptybowls/