Empty Bowl Dinner to fill others’ plates

MADISON – Inside-Out Ministries is inviting residents to the Empty Bowl Dinner to enjoy a meal but, more importantly, to remember that people in the community are hungry.

“Come and enjoy a simple meal to help feed the hungry in the Madison and Triana area,” Inside-Out Director of Operations Deborah Ward said. “Your donation gets you a handcrafted soup bowl and a basic, but wonderful, dinner consisting of your choice of soups and chili plus bread, dessert and a drink.”

“The bowl goes home with you as an unspoken reminder that somewhere, someone’s bowl is empty,” she said. This event will benefit Inside-Out’s food pantry and homelessness prevention programs that feed and care for Madison and Triana families.

The Empty Bowl Dinner will be held on Feb. 23 at Insanity Complex, 100 Skate Park Drive in Madison. Individuals can attend any time from 4 to 8 p.m.

Volunteers are making the bowls at several locations, including local senior centers and at craft sessions with artist Martha Marks at Zero Sullivan Arts, 4136-A Sullivan St. in downtown Madison.

“The bowls are handcrafted by local people, and the bowls are part of the meal ticket. People attending the Empty Bowl Dinner will receive a bowl to take home with them,” Ward said.

“Martha Marks at Zero Sullivan Arts has donated the clay for the bowls. Martha is helping volunteers make the bowls and offers classes for others who may want to learn how to make bowls for themselves or to donate,” Ward said.

Tickets to the Empty Bowl Dinner are $15 for adults and $10 for children younger than 10 years old.

To help in sponsoring the event or to make or donate bowls, call 256-325-5193. For more information about Inside-Out, email deborah@inside-outministries.org or visit inside-outministries.org or Twitter @Insideout_AL.

Inside-Out Ministries is an all-volunteer 501(c)3 charity in Madison. Larry and Deborah Ward are co-founders.

The all-volunteer organization doesn’t pay salaries and has low overhead. Inside-Out’s volunteers accept applications from residents who have needs for clothing, utility payments, appliances, furniture and housing. “We were drawn to share resources God has put at our disposal and to seek out others who had a heart for helping,” Deborah Ward said.