Empty bowl fundraiser being held tonight in Joplin - KOAM TV 7

A Joplin event from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.  tonight (Thursday) is connecting creative art with fighting hunger.

Handmade bowls and soup are being used to raise money and hunger awareness at Phoenix Fired Art on Main Street.

For a suggested donation of $15 you can own one of the more than 600 bowls and fill it with soup.  The bowls are locally made and painted by area artists.

The soups come from nearby restaurants.

Proceeds will go towards Crosslines Food Pantry, the Salvation Army and Watered Gardens.

"It's a week before Thanksgiving and so people are getting ready to feast with their family, and we want them to remember that somewhere someone in the community has an empty bowl," says Heather Grills of Phoenix Fired Art.  "It's a way to help educate people about the value of handmade ceramics, and to raise money to help fight local hunger."