The morning of March 9th saw a beautiful sunrise on the shoreline of downtown Fort Pierce’s weekly Farmer’s Market. This Saturday morning was different and special, and would have a huge positive impact on our community! The 16th annual Empty Bowls Project took place at the scene-stopping Fort Pierce waterfront. This yearly collaboration between St. Lucie Public Schools and the Treasure Coast Food Bank raises funds equivalent to 96,000 meals to support community members, friends, and families facing food insecurity in our four-county area. Mrs. Heather Blackmon-Gordon of St. Lucie Public Schools and Mr. Gary Porter of the Treasure Coast Food Bank co-captain their efforts, working tirelessly to make this event an annual success!
Fort Pierce Central High School Junior and Ceramics III Honors student Shyla Butterfield dips warm soup into a bowl for a new patron of the arts and hunger-fighter. Each ceramic bowl is empty when purchased, representing the empty bowls and hungry bellies in our community. When patrons purchase a bowl, they are not just picking out their favorite design, details, and artistic treasure, they are connecting with the deeper meaning and the powerful purpose of the arts, to represent humanity and to serve. All soups were prepared and donated by local restaurants Crabby’s Dockside, Cobb’s Landing, and Little Jim’s. Celebrity-signed bowls for the silent auction were donated by The Sunrise Theatre and the Mets.
Mrs. Avra, ceramics teacher at Fort Pierce Central High School poses with some of her students at during clean-up after serving our community.
More than 500 ceramic bowls hand-made were sold at the Farmers’ Market with all proceeds directly benefit the operations of the Treasure Coast Food Bank’s programs to mitigate the hunger needs of all populations. Stretching every $1 to eight meals goes a long way to feed our neighbors in need. Our district participating high schools were St. Lucie West Centennial instructor- Mrs. Karla Giametta, Lincoln Park instructor- Mr. Donald McGarry, and Fort Pierce Central instructor- Mrs. Katie Avra. Thank you to all who participated, volunteered, and purchased bowls for a tremendous cause!
(Photo credits to the Treasure Coast Food Bank).
