Written by Ben Cox – Empty Bowls, the annual fundraiser for Good Samaritan Brownwood, is celebrating 10 years in Brown County this year.

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The event, held this year on April 4th at the Brownwood Coliseum, offers a chance for everyday citizens of Brown County to do a part in helping to fight hunger.

Celebrating 25 years of service, Good Samaritan is a local organization dedicated to local needs. Feeding the hungry, clothing the poor and assisting the needy of Brown County are all in a days work for the men and women who work there.

Leesa Stephens, the groups director, says “I think that anytime an organization has a project that has that kind of longevity it says something about the project, that it resonates with the community. They get it, they get what we’re doing here. I think it also says a lot about our community. There are less that 40k people in this county. And there are other organizations who reach out and need help, so for ten years for the people to keep this going is something we are proud of.”

This years Empty Bowls project has been under way for some time, with bowls being painted at painting parties across the county. “We have lots of groups who do the painting, some come here to paint, and the last two years we have taken bowls to groups. I love the painting parties, because we get to reinforce that someone will be taking these bowls home and that it will be a constant reminder of what this event is about.”

Stephens says that each year the bowls designs get prettier and prettier. “We have some BEAUTIFUL bowls this year! I think I say that every year, but I think we have some of the most unique and beautiful bowls I have ever seen.”

Soups from 21 local restaurants around town will be donated to the event, then sold to attendees who also get their choice of one of the painted bowls. “There will also be live entertainment put together by Howard Payne and a live auction with all kinds of items including some from Chip and Joanna Gains Magnolia Foundation!”

All the events proceeds go to fight hunger, whether locally or national through a 10 percent tithe. This year that tithe will go to Food for the Hungry, an international hunger relief ministry.

Good Samaritan makes it a point that while they are glad to assist with other ministries, that tithe is the only time any funds donated to the organization ever leave Brown County.

There will be two serving times, lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and dinner will be from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. To volunteer help serve at the event, contact volunteer coordinator Stacy Walker at 325-643-2273 or visit the ministry’s website. Stephens says “There are MANY many volunteer slots to fill, so please call!”

There will also be an Empty Bowls weekend at the Resale Shop, instead of having a resale boutique like they usually do, Good Sam is having the sale because “we just have so much to take over to the Coliseum this year!” The store will be open Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and on Saturday from 10 a.m. 2 p.m.

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