By Wendy Hodge
Opelika Observer
The Empty Bowls Project 2018 was held last Saturday at the Recreation Center on Denson Drive. The annual event raises funds to support the East Alabama Food Bank. Local potters and pottery students designed and crafted bowls for purchase. The bowls are meant to symbolize those in our community who often go without a meal. The Rec Center was filled to capacity with guests whose $10 purchase allowed them to choose one piece of pottery and to enjoy a hot bowl of soup. Local vendors, including Niffers, Panera Bread, Chick-Fil- A, Jim Bob’s, Wright’s Market, and Lee County Gardeners, donated ingredients for the soup that was served. Raffle tickets were also available for purchase. Items up for grabs included various large pottery pieces, a cooking lesson with Jim Sikes, jewelry, and dinner for six in one of Opelika’s historic homes. Local Boy Scout Troop 354, whose members earned a pottery badge, were on hand to assist guests. According to event coordinator Kitty Greene, 85 percent of the fundraising goal for the food bank has been reached. A limited supply of bowls are still available.