The Art I class donated a $500 check from their Empty Bowls project to the Lindale Food Pantry December 14th. The donation will go towards different foods, drinks, and personal care items. 

“It warms my heart so much when students step up and do something like this,” volunteer Larry Wilson said. “I feel it raises their awareness of the needs of others and shows them how simple it is to make a difference in people’s lives.”

The Empty Bowls project was started as a way to bring hunger awareness from third world countries, and now they have decided to bring awareness about those who struggle with hunger within the community. Over 300 families are served by the food pantry representing around 1000 people with 202,000 pounds of food given away this year.

“I think it‘s amazing,” art teacher Kari McKenzie said. “The empty bowls project focuses on our students as individual artists being able to create something that can then be given to the community to raise money and to bring people together.”

The pantry has served the community for over 35 years, and it is operated under a multi-church organization that started at the First United Methodist Church. The pantry also funds two college scholarships for LISD graduates, and they fund for dental care. Their funding mainly comes from the We Care Thrift Store, churches, and other organizations like the art club.

“We would love to reach more people,” Wilson said. “We know there are people who won’t go to a pantry because they are managing to scrape by but we want to make it possible for people to have a little financial cushion.”