Empty Bowls raised a record $34,000 at their annual fundraiser last week to help feed the hungry in the local community. The money will be split evenly between local nonprofits First Christian Church and King’s Table to put toward their food services.
Chris Michael, Lead Minister of FCC, said the church is humbled to receive an almost indescribable amount of funding.
“It pleases me that this church cares about feeding people. To some, it’s not the biggest thing, the most important thing that people pay attention to, but [in the time we’ve been here this morning,] somebody has already come by hungry and gotten food. So that’s why we do this,” Michael said.
The church’s efforts include feeding 16 families of refugees and immigrants with the International Center through a twice-a-month donation of fresh vegetables and other goods. They also have a food box at both Germantown Park and Cravens Elementary School.
For King’s Table, President Lisa Mourning said the money will help reach their goal of serving seniors and shut-ins in the community. She said the organization has a waiting list of people to help, and the funding will help take care of some of those people.
“I have a list that is provided and we have 200 people on the waiting list. Now I get some volunteers and I’ve got food to deliver to a lot more people,” Mourning said.
She also noted that the organization will be able to afford new freezers and a large refrigerator that will allow them to provide fresher items and have less food waste altogether.
“This is outstanding. Our seniors don’t have an opportunity to necessarily go forth and better their personal situation, because they’re often aging and with health issues,” she said. “This will make a huge difference for them to relieve them of some of that insecurity.”
