From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. you can try out a smorgasbord of yummies at the big community gathering, which raises money for the Mayfield-Graves County Food Pantry. The eating extravaganza will be held at Trace Creek Baptist Church’s Family Life Center, 3357 State Route 131.
For a $15 ticket each diner gets to pick from a mixture of a unique hand-painted bowls and specially selected bowls to gather samples of the goodies. After eating, participants take the bowls home as a reminder of hungry people around the world and in their own community.
Participating restaurants this year are: Applebee’s, Carr’s Steakhouse, Cracker Barrel, Dairy Queen, Dominos Pizza, Hardee’s, H&C Doughnut Shop, Happy House, Hill’s Famous Chili Dogs, Jimmy John’s, The Dinner Bell, Majestic Pizza & Steakhouse, Mayfield Creek Market, Rita’s Café, Snappy Tomato, Southern Red’s BBQ, Taco John’s, Wendy’s, Wilma’s Country Kitchen, and Wings Etc.
Tickets are available at Trace Creek Church office, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., M-F; The Good News Shoppe, 203 E. South St.; or for 20 or more tickets call at 270-705-6062. On Saturday, tickets will be available at the door as long as there are enough bowls to accommodate diners. About 1,000 persons are expected to attend.
In addition to all the food tasting,
there will be a silent auction and door prizes donated by local
merchants and individuals. There will also be a surprise souvenir for
diners. There are about 19 silent auction items including a quilt,
paintings, jewelry, glass bowls, home décor and gift certificates.
Local businesses and individuals donating auction and door prizes are: artists Rick Tedder and Pat Gibson, Panther Creek Pottery, Initial Outfitters, King’s Antiques & Florist, Stone’s Drugs, Tyea Hoffman, The Frosted Farmhouse, The Artisan Event, Applebee’s, Catfish Corner, Mayfield Meals, Little Caesars, Duncan’s Drugs, Katie J’s, Food Giant and Broadway Florist.
The first three years of the event raised a total of about $37,000 for the Food Pantry, which provides emergency food supplies for about 350 local needy families each month.
“I am grateful to each restaurant
that is donating their time and delicious food to the event,” said
Claudia Heath, who started the local effort and has served as project
coordinator each year. “I would ask that everyone who attends to
please remember to mention to each of them how much they appreciate
their support of the event and their community. Each restaurant has
the community interest at heart otherwise this event could not take
place. They are vital to this effort.”
“We are so thankful for this great fund-raiser that has provided needed money for the Food Pantry to keep assisting local residents for the past three years,” said Food Pantry Director Jackie Herndon. “We encourage everyone to come out and support this event and have a great time for a great cause, helping our neighbors in need.”
The Empty Bowls project is an international effort started some 20 years ago to help alleviate hunger and raise awareness of the issues of hunger around the world.
