The fifth annual Empty Bowls of Champaign County fundraiser, which aims to help fight hunger within the local community, will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. on Feb. 25 at the Urbana University Student Center.

For $15 per person, patrons get to choose one handmade bowl from a selection of 500 unique bowls. After enjoying a simple meal of soup and bread, the bowl is the customer’s to keep.

Rosemary Bradley, development director at the Second Harvest Food Bank of Clark, Champaign & Logan Counties, said all the bowls were handmade for the event by Grimes Pottery in Cedarville, Mello Pottery in Springfield and students at Springfield High School.

Funds raised from the sale of the bowls will allow the food bank to continue product distribution services in Champaign County, Bradley said. These services, which include mobile pantries and senior food boxes, are provided to the following partner agencies of the Second Harvest Food Bank: Caring Kitchen, Concord Community Pantry, North Lewisburg United Methodist Church, Recovery Zone, Senior Center Pantry, St. Paris Federation of Churches, Stepping Stone Outreach and Wherehouse.

“In addition, Second Harvest Food Bank is looking to develop new programming targeting child hunger,” she added.

Last year’s Empty Bowls event raised $14,375 for the food bank, and organizers are hoping to top $15,000 this year.

“Empty Bowls is a wonderful way for Second Harvest Food Bank to bring the community together,” said Second Harvest Food Bank Executive Director Tyra Jackson. “The event wouldn’t be possible without the support of local businesses, restaurants, and individuals joining together in raising awareness to end hunger.”

Area businesses serving as soup sponsors this year as of Feb. 3 are Fusion 40.83, Forage, Airport Cafe, Rock ‘n Robin, Cafe’ Paradiso, Carmazzi’s Deli, The Hippie and The Farmer, The Farmer’s Daughter, Coppertop, Sodexo, Madison’s Downtown Market & Cafe, The Depot Coffee House, Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop and The FoodSmiths Catering.

Cosmic Charlie Bread is the event’s bread sponsor.

Organizers are accepting sponsors for the event through Feb. 19. To learn more, contact Bradley at 937-325-8715, ext. 133.

For more information on the Second Harvest Food Bank or to make a donation, visit www.donate2help.org.

Pictured are volunteers hanging up a sign during a previous Empty Bowls of Champaign County event held at Urbana University.

https://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/02/web1_Empty-Bowls.jpgPictured are volunteers hanging up a sign during a previous Empty Bowls of Champaign County event held at Urbana University. Courtesy photo

Pictured are various handmade bowls that were available for purchase during a past Empty Bowls of Champaign County event.

https://www.urbanacitizen.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/36/2016/02/web1_Empty-Bowls-2.jpgPictured are various handmade bowls that were available for purchase during a past Empty Bowls of Champaign County event. Courtesy photo