Farragut students feed hungry with Empty Bowls

Tracy Haun OwensOur Town Youth

Editor’s note: The Empty Bowls event has been moved to Wednesday, April 3, due to recent school closings for illness and flooding. Online tickets have been changed to reflect the new date. Contact wendie.love@knoxschools.org for any other questions.

Between last week’s downpours and next week’s chilly blasts, it’s the perfect time to step out to break bread, sip soup and benefit those in need at the 19th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser for FISH Hospitality Pantries. Einstein Bros. Bagels in Farragut will host the gathering on Wednesday, Feb. 27, with seatings for dinner at 5:30, 6, 6:30 and 7 p.m. Soup will be served in bowls created by members of the Farragut High School National Art Honor Society, and patrons leave with the empty bowls, which serve as a tangible reminder of those in need in our community.

Artist and Farragut High School art instructor Wendie Love brought the fundraiser to the high school in 2001, and the Kidder family, which owns the bagel shop, became involved more than a decade ago. Love says the real work for the event is done by “the amazing students” who make up the Farragut NAHS.

Bowl by Farragut High School student Kailey Kear of the National Art Honor Society. The Empty Bowls fundraiser takes place Wednesday, Feb. 27, at Einstein Bros. Bagels.

There are about 50 students in the Farragut NAHS, says organization co-president Yune Kim, a Farragut High School junior. She says she and her fellow students started getting ready for the fundraiser in October.

“It’s labor intensive,” says Kim, as students make the bowls, paint the bowls and help set up for the event. Kim, who joined NAHS last year and hopes to make art her career one day, says Empty Bowls is one of her favorite events.

“Everyone enjoys the artwork and enjoys each other’s company,” Kim says. “I’m super-excited for the entire club. We can showcase our artwork and also give back to the community. It’s a great opportunity.”

Einstein Brothers Bagels is at 11693 Parkside Drive. Tickets for Empty Bowls are $15, and some seatings may be sold out. Tickets can be purchased here.

If you can’t make the dinner, you may also make a donation through the link above to the not-for-profit FISH Hospitality Pantries. FISH provides food to more than 11,000 local families each month. Info here.

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