Hunger is a problem people face every day—even those in our own community.
For the last six years, the CROSS (Christians Reaching Out in Social Service) Food Shelf has been reminding people of this fact through its annual signature Empty Bowls event, located this year at the Maple Grove Community Center on Tuesday, March 20 from 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
“It’s an event everyone is invited to and everyone enjoys,” says Pam Hanson, CROSS Food Shelf president. “It’s a fun time to get together and meet people over a bowl of soup.”
Organized with the help of the Osseo school district, the afternoon will include a meal of soup—courtesy of Lynde’s and Boston’s—and bread. District 279 students and other community members will also perform throughout the afternoon, including Erin Jamieson, winner of the Gideon Media Arts Conference competition, and guitarist Ron Hanson.
In exchange for a donation, guests are asked to keep a beautiful handcrafted bowl made by local vendors and community members as a reminder of all the empty bowls in the world. CROSS will hold a silent auction for some of the special bowls as well. In all, Hanson hopes to have more than 1,000 bowls this year.
Last year’s event raised about $7,000. This year, Hanson hopes to raise closer to $12,000, and all proceeds will to an organization working to end hunger and food insecurity.
“We have to remember that there is always hunger in the world,” she says. “And we can meet that need by coming to this event.”
IF YOU GO:
Tuesday, March 20
11 a.m.–7 p.m.
Maple Grove Community Center
12951 Weaver Lake Rd.
