At the Tarrant Area Food Bank (TAFB), the term “empty bowls” is a symbolic and iconic one. On one hand, Empty Bowls represents TAFB’s signature fundraising event of the year, full of delicious food, beautiful art, exciting raffle prizes, and a fun time overall. On the other hand, the term “empty bowls” is a reminder of the friends and neighbors in the Fort Worth community and surrounding counties who are food insecure. Those who don’t know where their next meal is coming from, so their bowls are truly empty.

Photo courtesy of Tarrant Area Food Bank

According to a national study of hunger, Texas ranks first in the nation for the highest number of hungry children. That means one in four kids doesn’t have access to nutritious food every day. This could be the child sitting next to yours in class or on the school bus. Tarrant Area Food Bank is dedicated to making sure kids have access to the nutrition they require to grow and thrive with programs like in-school pantries, summer meals, and more. Next week, TAFB’s largest opportunity to give back while having fun takes place, which is your primate opportunity to ensure all kids in North Texas don’t go hungry on their spring or summer breaks.

TAFB’s Empty Bowls event is next Tuesday, March 17, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. The event features samplings from 40 local restaurants, including Fort Worth favorites such as Texas de Brazil, Chicken Salad Chick, Fred’s Texas Café, Bonnell’s Restaurant Group, and many more. But at its heart, Empty Bowls is a celebration of the art community banding together to end hunger. With the purchase of an Empty Bowls ticket, guests will be able to select one of 3,000 handcrafted bowls, crafted by prominent local artists.

Photo courtesy of Tarrant Area Food Bank

For the price of a single general admission ticket, TAFB is able to provide more than 300 meals for those who are hungry in all 13 counties that they serve. Cindy Baker, Chairwoman of TAFB’s Empty Bowls Steering Committee, said it best: “If people walk away understanding what the food bank’s mission and their message is, then that’s a successful event. What matters is if people walk away with our mission.”

With your support and attendance, we can achieve our mission of communities where no one has to go hungry. Tickets are available for purchase here. By purchasing a ticket to Empty Bowls, bringing all your friends and family, and spreading awareness of TAFB’s mission, we hope to reduce the amount of hungry children in our area. Only with your help will that be possible.

Photo courtesy of Tarrant Area Food Bank

Editor’s Note: As of the time of publishing, Empty Bowls has not been postponed. For more information, please click here. 

Photo courtesy of Dylan Solis

Dylan Solis is a Marketing and Communications Coordinator at Tarrant Area Food Bank. You can help fight hunger in your community by signing up to volunteer or donating at tafb.org.

The post Filling Hearts and Bowls first appeared on Tanglewood Moms.