'Empty Bowls' to help raise awareness, funds for local food pantries

Contact: Victoria Russell

Dozens of campus volunteers created bowls for the upcoming "Empty Bowls" event to be held on World Food Day, Oct. 16. In conjunction with the Maroon Edition series of events, the art department and the MSU Student Dietetic Association are working to raise funds to benefit local food pantries, as well as awareness of hunger and food insecurity.
Dozens of campus volunteers created bowls for the upcoming "Empty Bowls" event to be held on World Food Day, Oct. 16. In conjunction with the Maroon Edition series of events, the art department and the MSU Student Dietetic Association are working to raise funds to benefit local food pantries, as well as awareness of hunger and food insecurity.
Photo by: Megan Bean

STARKVILLE, Miss.--A Mississippi State student organization is joining with a university academic department to provide a special way of acknowledging and helping alleviate food insecurity and hunger in the Starkville community on World Food Day.

"Empty Bowls," a Thursday [Oct. 16] soup luncheon and silent auction, will take place at the Bost Extension Center auditorium. In conjunction with the Maroon Edition series of events and open to all, the event will raise funds to benefit local food pantries.

The 11 a.m.-12:45 p.m. silent auction will feature about 200 auction bowls made and signed by well-known members of the campus and local communities, along with others designed by students and MSU alumni.

The 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. luncheon will be catered by MSU Dining Services and City Bagel.

Senior Anna Laurin Harrison of Ocean Springs, Student Dietetic Association president, said she and other members of the organization are encouraging maximum participation by residents of campus and local communities.

"The funds we raise from the signed bowls are staying right here in Starkville, so we can see our community grow and thrive," she added.

Among others, creators of bowls up for auction include:

--Greg Bohach, vice president for agriculture, forestry and veterinary medicine;

--Jerry Gilbert, provost and executive vice president;

--George Hopper, dean of the colleges of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Forest Resources, and director of the Forest and Wildlife Research Center;

--Linda Morse, professor and head of the counseling and educational psychology department;

--Peter Ryan, associate provost; and

--Parker Wiseman, Starkville mayor.

"The hand-made pottery will provide a long-lasting symbol that will inspire thankfulness for a filled bowl and remembering those whose bowls are empty," Harrison said.

"Empty Bowls" is co-sponsored by the Student Dietetic Association and the art department, with support from City Bagel restaurant, MSU Dining Services, and the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences' food science, nutrition and health promotion department.

MSU is online at www.msstate.edu.