BAF supports Empty Bowls, and we hope you will too!

   Empty Bowls, a fundraiser for local food pantries hosted by Beckley Quota Club, is happening this Saturday.  BAF, a longtime supporter of this event and organization, provided them $3,734 to purchase pottery wheels, clay, and glazes that are used to make the bowls throughout the year at various locations around southern WV.

   Empty Bowls began in 1990 as an international project to fight hunger, personalized by artists, art students, community organizations and generally anyone who wants to get their hands in clay, to be a part of the solution in addressing hunger in their neighborhoods.
   Each community's events are self-developed and independent.  The "Empty Bowls" framework encourages and inspires participants of all ages to create and donate their piece of art to raise money towards food sustainability programs in the region.  The money is raised by having an event consisting of a simple meal of soup and bread, which is provided by generous restaurants and organizations in the area, with an empty bowl to be selected and taken home as a reminder of those who may not have enough to eat.  Tickets are pre-sold, while items for a silent auction and donations are secured for the event.  All of the money raised is awarded to local food banks and soup kitchens in the community.
   Quota Club of Beckley, in conjunction with the Youth Museum of Southern WV, began this initiative locally in 2013, with the first event being held in March 2014. They far exceeded projections creating over 700 bowls and raising $12,000, which earned international recognition as one of the five projects selected by Quota International for their Service Project of the Year Awards.
   The next year's event surpassed the previous with 1000 bowls being made and $15,000 being raised and distributed.  This earned the Quota Club of Beckley the international service award again that year, an honor they never expected 2 years in a row.
   2016 yet again surpassed the previous year, raising $17,500 that was distributed to 11 organizations throughout the region.  While 2017's event did not continue on this upward trend, it was still a wonderful success, raising $15,000, for a total of $59,500 being raised since its inception.  
   We hope you will come out and support this awesome event and make 2018 the best year yet! 

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