Fighting Food Insecurity: Wittenberg University’s Impactful Initiatives

This Thursday, March 27, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Wittenberg University will host its 31st annual Empty Bowls event. It will take place in the Center Dining Room of the Benham-Pence Student Center. This event aims to tackle food insecurity in the local community.

Empty Bowls events happen all over the country. Over its thirty-year history, Wittenberg has raised more than $665,000—enough to provide nearly 3.8 million meals for people in need across Clark, Champaign, and Logan counties.

In collaboration with the Second Harvest Food Bank, Wittenberg’s ceramic students, faculty, and local community members create about 1,000 bowls each year. Most of these bowls are shaped during special throwing days held on weekends.

Local restaurants and Parkhurst Dining Services sponsor the event by providing delicious soups and breads. Guests can buy a bowl for $20, which grants them an all-you-can-eat soup dinner. They also get to take the bowl home, serving as a reminder of the ongoing struggle with hunger in our communities.

In recent years, the event has gained even more traction. In 2024, it raised over $40,000, and previously hit a record of $50,187 in 2019. This year, the goal is to raise more than $50,000. Every dollar goes a long way: it translates to five meals for families in need. Just one bowl can provide 100 meals!

The Second Harvest Food Bank is the sole food bank serving Clark, Champaign, and Logan Counties, distributing over six million pounds of food each year. Four million pounds of that food is allocated specifically to Clark County. Their operations involve sourcing, sorting, and warehousing food for various pantries and soup kitchens.

As part of Feeding America and the Ohio Association of Foodbanks, Second Harvest ensures safe food handling, adhering to both state and federal guidelines. This commitment is crucial for maintaining the health and safety of local food supplies.

Supporting the Empty Bowls event is a meaningful way to contribute to the fight against hunger. For more details, you can reach out to Wittenberg or the Second Harvest Food Bank.

If you’re searching for further insights, a 2022 survey conducted by the Hunger Research Institute found that food insecurity has risen by 25% since the pandemic began, highlighting that events like Empty Bowls are more essential than ever.



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