Empty bowls feeds souls and stomachs of homeless
Ariia Pike
Issue date: 11/17/09 Section: Features
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MCC participated by hosting an "Empty Bowls" event at its Red Mountain campus on Oct. 20.
Attendees were able to browse through hundreds of bowls created by MCC faculty and students.
When a bowl is found, the cost is $10 which also buys a meal of soup and bread in remembrance of World Hunger Day.
The project first began in 1990, when an art teacher in Michigan asked his students to think up a way to raise money to support a food drive.
Since then, it has transformed into a nation-wide effort to support food banks, soup kitchens and other groups that help to fight hunger.
This is the fifth year MCC has hosted the event and the proceeds benefit Paz de Cristo, a non-profit outreach and community center in Mesa.
"This is a big event and a big fundraiser. Between the campuses we raise $16,000-$19,000 for Paz de Cristo," said Cheryl Hardt, administrative secretary and coordinator of the event. "Everything is donated, down to the spoons, cups, rolls…everything."
A large group of volunteers from New Frontier, a lifelong learning group that is partnered with MCC takes time to run the event by serving the food, selling t-shirts and wrapping bowls.
Providing bowls for the occasion takes months of prep work, according to Sandee Holland, a volunteer, "(They) start preparing new bowls
as soon as one (Empty Bowls) ends and they go full force over the summer."
One volunteer, Jean McClogin, 85, has been a volunteer with Paz de Cristo since their inception in 1988.
"I started when I sat on the floor with an electric skillet to fry bacon and cook vegetables."
Since those days, she has watched the non-profit organization become a community of more than 1,500 volunteers serving 250-280 plates a day to the hungry.
McColgin said the need is there and has seen an increase in the number of hungry people who come to Paz for their meals.
"Many more meals (are being passed out), more food boxes, more children and families. Last Sunday we had 10 hungry children."
Paz de Cristo relies on contributions from grocery stores, food banks, as well as private donations.
They also help people get a job and assist in outfitting them with the appropriate clothing and shoes.
MCC hosted two more Empty Bowls events at its Southern and Dobson campus.
Donations are welcomed at Paz de Cristo located at 424 W. Broadway Road in Mesa and the phone number is (480) 464-2370.
Their web address is: www.pazdecristo.org
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