27th Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon, presented by Bank of America, set for Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Prime Osborn Convention Center

More than 2,000 one-of-a-kind ceramic bowls have been created around the First Coast in preparation for the 27th Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon benefiting Second Harvest North Florida. The luncheon is set for Tuesday, Nov. 15, at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, and the ‘firing’ of the bowls is just one of many preparations already underway.

Children from more than 50 schools are contributing their artistic talents to the effort, along with senior citizen groups, local professional artists and other community and professional organizations. They are volunteering their time and talents to the cause of fighting hunger in north Florida.

More than 1,300 people attended the luncheon in 2010, and the event raised net proceeds of more than $75,000 for Second Harvest. The event serves as a reminder that many families and children in our community go to bed hungry. Through the years, it has become a traditional kickoff for north Florida’s holiday season.

Luncheon attendees are able to choose one of the students’ bowls as a keepsake. Professional artist bowls may be purchased to benefit Second Harvest. Guests can also compete in a silent auction for celebrity-signed bowls. Celebrity signed bowls at this year’s luncheon will include Paula Deen, Peter Max and Reba McEntire, among others.

Students from Fleming Island High School, Jacksonville Country Day School and Christ’s Church Academy will entertain guests with musical selections.

This year’s event is scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Doors will open at 11 a.m. Attendees are provided a simple meal of bread, soup and fruit served by local celebrities – symbolic of the meals served by the soup kitchens to which Second Harvest distributes food throughout the year.

Luncheon tickets are $25 per person, while non-profit tables are $300 and corporate tables $500. Additional event sponsorship packages are available as well. Bank of America is the presenting sponsor of the event. Other 2011 sponsors include PRI Productions, Chick-fil-A, Futch Printing & Mailing, SMG, BJ’s, Hometown Threads, Doing Dishes Pottery Studio, Pink Flamingo Arts, Pottery Works and ARC of Jacksonville.

For ticket and sponsorship information, contact Tia R. Ford at 904.739.7074 or click here.

2010 Event Photos

About Second Harvest North Florida
Second Harvest North Florida is the oldest and largest program of Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida. LSS was founded in 1979 by area Lutherans and business leaders to fill gaps in services offered in the community for people in need. Second Harvest gathers food from local and national sources, shares these resources with more than 450 nonprofit organizations in 17 north Florida counties and helps thousands of people each year who are hungry or at risk of not having being able to provide food for themselves and their families. In addition to collecting and distributing food, Second Harvest serves children in after-school programs through its Kids Cafe and BackPack programs and in summer camps through its Summer Lunch program. It also takes Mobile Pantries filled with Family Boxes of food to people living in neighborhoods with the greatest needs. Call 904.730.8234 for more information about any of these programs and services.