Not often do Empty Bowls feed the hungry.

However, when potters put their hands to the wheel, bowls are filled and the hungry are fed.

That is the premise behind the “Empty Bowls” fundraiser for the Pike County Salvation Army on Friday, March 18.

“Last year’s Empty Bowls fundraiser was such a great success and so much fun that we are making it annual event,” said Marian Parker, event co-coordinator. “Empty Bowls is an event to raise money to feed the hungry in our community and the funds raised will support the Salvation Army’s food bank in Troy.”

The Empty Bowls fundraiser will be from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Lillian D. Green Nutrition Center in Troy on March 18.

Donations of $20 include a handcrafted ceramic bowl and the choice of soup, bread, beverage and a cookie. Tickets are available at the Salvation Army Service Center and Thrift Store at 509 South Brundidge Street in Troy.

Parker said the “empty bowls” will be creations of potters as well as clay artists from all across the state.

“Last year, the Alabama Clay Conference was held at Troy University and many of the artists donated handmade bowls to the Empty Bowls fundraiser,” she said. “Although the conference will not be held in Troy this year, some of the artists at the state conference will make bowls especially for our Empty Bowls event. The bowls that were left over from last year’s fundraiser will also be available.”

Participants in the pottery classes at the Colley Senior Complex are making bowls especially for the fundraiser along with several members of the Troy University football team.

“We will have several celebrity potters and their bowls will be on the auction block,” Parker said. “Last year, the celebrity bowls generated a lot of interest and raised a lot of money for the Salvation Army food bank.”

Kim May, Pike County Salvation Army director, said there is always a need for non-perishable food items at the local food bank and funds are also needed to supplement the food supply.

“We always need protein food items,” she said. “Canned meats are relatively expensive and we don’t get many donations of that kind so that is our greatest need – canned meats and peanut butter.”

May said another need is for ready to eat products. “We have transients and homeless people – and we do have homeless people in Pike County – that don’t have a way to heat food or keep it cold,” she said. The funds raised will be used for the Salvation Army food bank.