Local fundraiser brings awareness to food insecurities in Clark, Champaign County

Local artisans and school art departments donate the homemade bowls, while restaurants donate soups and bread.

“Empty Bowls is a wonderful way for Second Harvest Food Bank to bring the community together,” said Tyra Jackson, Executive Director of Second Harvest Food Bank. “The event wouldn’t be possible without the support of local businesses, restaurants, and individuals joining together in raising awareness to end hunger.”

RELATED: Food bank to deploy more mobile pantries after Kroger closes Springfield store

This year’s fundraising goal is $18,000. The money raised will help the food bank continue distribution services like their mobile pantries and senior food boxes, which deliver goods to food-insecure residents.

In Champaign County, Second Harvest is working with local schools and universities to combat food insecurities, including Urbana University’s recently instituted Nights Covered, which allows students to get food when they are running low, and a Graham Local Schools school pantry, Jackson said.

“Throughout our three-county area, we serve over 37,000 people each year,” Jackson said. “We know the need is greater than that.”

According to Second Harvest’s website, the combined food insecurity rate for all three counties is higher than the national rate.

LOCAL: Clark County residents, agencies track crash data in new ways

To combat food insecurities, the food bank distributes more than 5.5 million pounds of food annually, with over half a million pounds going directly to Champaign County, the food bank said in a statement.

Second Harvest will hold two additional Empty Bowl events in both Springfield and Bellefontaine.

Empty Bowls of Clark County will be held from 4:30 p.m. until 7 p.m. on March 19 at Wittenberg University, located at 200 W. Ward St. in Springfield, and Empty Bowls of Logan County will be held from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. on April 23 at Ohio Hi-Point Career Center, located at 2280 Ohio 540 in Bellefontaine.

For information, residents can contact Jackson at 937-325-8715 or visit www.theshfb.com.