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Empty Bowls to help Hope Haven, food pantry

March 13, 2014

Photo of onion soup and breadThe 16th annual “Empty Bowls” project is scheduled for Thursday, March 27.

Reservations are recommended for either of the two seatings at 4:30 and 6 p.m. in the Chandelier Room, 143 Adams Hall.

The menu includes chicken tortilla soup, stuffed bell pepper soup, broccoli-cheddar soup and vegan minestrone soup. Guests also can munch on a variety of breads. Beverages include coffee, iced tea and water.

A donation of $15 buys homemade soup and bread, a beverage and, while supplies last, a ceramic bowl hand-crafted by an NIU art student. A donation of $10 buys food and drink only.

Additional donations are welcome. Half of the proceeds will benefit Hope Haven in DeKalb while the rest will help to jump-start the pilot Huskies Student Food Pantry program.

New this year is a raffle with prizes from local sponsors. To receive five free raffle tickets, share the Facebook event page or use #NIUEmptyBowls.

“Empty Bowls is an inspiring event that helps raise awareness of hunger in a unique and memorable way. We hope diners will get a better sense of what a soup kitchen is like and be more aware of hunger issues,” said Pierra Sobodas, president of the NIU Student Dietetic Association.

“By donating $15, you get a beautiful ceramic bowl created by NIU’s Ceramic Club to always remind you of the people who go hungry in the world,”she added.

Huskies Student Food Pantry logo“Hope Haven is such a great asset to our community, and it is wonderful we can help support them. This year, we have the chance to give back to the NIU student community by also supporting the food pantry that is opening this March. Hunger and homelessness is a growing issue that is sometimes overlooked; raising awareness in our community is one step we can take to help make a difference.”

Members of the Student Dietetic Association from the School of Family, Consumer and Nutrition Sciences (who do the cooking) and the NIU Ceramics Club from the School of Art (who make the bowls) organize the event, an international project that originated in Michigan.

Further operational support is coming from FCNS student organization Bread for the World. Meanwhile, Proviso West High School in Hillside, Ill., is supplying more ceramic bowls.

For more information, email niusda68@gmail.com.