The Academy Center of the Arts has announced the 11th annual Empty Bowls event to benefit the Lynchburg Daily Bread on Saturday, March 16, 2019, from 10:30am – 1:30pm in the Warehouse Theatre, 519 Commerce Street. Empty Bowls is a national program recognized and participated in across the country, in efforts to raise fund and spread awareness of the fight against hunger in our local community.
With the purchase of a ticket, patrons have the ability to select their own handmade ceramic bowl, created by local potters, and enjoy soup tastings, bread, a dessert, and a drink, all donated by area restaurants and individual donors.
To date, over 40 volunteers and local potters have crafted more than 325 bowls for the event.
“It is inspiring to see so many potters from our community volunteer their time and talents to benefit the Daily Bread,” said Ted Batt, Director of Visual Arts. “Many of the potters are students or teachers at the Academy, while others are involved elsewhere in the community.
“It is my hope that with so many potters, we can achieve our goal of 500 bowls and contribute an even larger amount to the Daily Bread this year!”
In 2018, 500 patrons attended Empty Bowls allowing the Academy Center of the Arts to deliver a check for $9318.00 to the Lynchburg Daily Bread, an increase from $7931.00 in 2017. For the 11th anniversary, the Academy hopes to increase that amount to $10,000.00.
“In 2018, the Lynchburg Daily Bread served 78,931 meals across Central Virginia – the most ever in our 36-year history,” said Tracey Dixon, Executive Director. “When you buy a $20.00 ticket to Empty Bowls, you’re helping to provide 40 meals to a person in need.
“An area that Empty Bowls has really helped to grow is the Meals Outreach program. We are now receiving over 800 pounds of donated food each day, which is more than we need to serve 100-250 people per day downtown. This excess amount allows us to bring meals and produce to 11 Meals Outreach sites in and around Lynchburg City. The funds being raised through Empty Bowls makes this effort possible.”
Tickets to Empty Bowls are on sale for $20.00. Early Bird tickets, which include early access to the event and first access to your choice of a bowl, are on sale for $30.00. Tickets can be purchased at academycenter.org. Patrons may also purchase their tickets by calling the Box Office at (434) 846-8499 or day of.
For more information, please visit academycenter.org or call (434) 846-8499.
