CLEVELAND, Mississippi: The state of Mississippi is the most food insecure state in the United States, with 1 in 5 Mississippians unsure if they can afford their next meal. In the Delta, 21% percent of households are food insecure, double the nationwide rate of 10.5%. These food insecure homes in the Delta lack the ability to obtain nutritious and adequate food for a healthy life.

Empty Bowls is an international grassroots effort to fight hunger. Empty Bowls fundraiser will be held at Delta Arts Alliance 104 S Court Street in Cleveland, Mississippi, on Friday, October 25, from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. The $25 cost includes a handcrafted / hand painted bowl as well as a meal of soup, bread, dessert, and beverage. Before enjoying a meal, guests will select a one-of-a-kind bowl. Delta State University ceramic students and other delta potters work with the community to create beautiful handcrafted bowls. Free gift wrapping is available.
Extra Table is a non-profit organization with a mission to fundraise in order to supply healthy, shelf-stable food in bulk, from partner Sysco, to Mississippi food pantries and soup kitchens so that our hungry neighbors can have nutritious, shelf-stable meals they so need. Extra Table was founded in 2009 by Chef Robert St. John of Hattiesburg. Today, Extra Table partners with 39 food pantries and soup kitchens and one food hub sending food monthly to over 100 pantries or 1/5 of the pantries in the state of Mississippi.

Funds raised from this event will be used to provide food to Delta area food pantries and help open a food pantry on the campus of Delta State University. Extra Table so proudly supports: Caring Hands-Itta Bena, Clarksdale Care Station-Clarksdale, Hearty Helpings Food Pantry-Greenville, Helping Hands-Belzoni, Helping Hands-Cleveland, Robert Neil Food Pantry-Charleston, St. Vincent De Paul-Greenville, and Tutwiler Community Education Center-Tutwiler.

Visit bit.ly/empty–bowls for tickets and sponsorship information.

For more event information, follow Extra Table on social media, visit www.ExtraTable.org or call 601-264-0672. 100% of the proceeds from this event will go toward purchasing healthy, shelf-stable food for Delta food pantries and soup kitchens.