PARIS, Tenn.—Tickets are now on sale for the Empty Bowls soup dinner fundraisers for the Little Pantries of Henry County.
The fundraising events will be held in memory of the late Bill Neese, a Paris attorney who was a founding supporter of the Little Pantries of Henry County.
Rev. Emily Walker of Trinity United Methodist Church in Paris said there currently are 16 free Little Pantries all over Henry County and all of them receive a lot of use. Additional funds are needed to keep the pantries supplied with food.
At a ‘throw-a-thon’ in July, local potters created the bowls for the Empty Bowls project.
Four soup dinner meals are planned:
Friday, Sept. 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 to 7 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church
Saturday, Sept. 16, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Sunday, Sept. 17, from 12 to 2 p.m. at Paris First United Methodist Church
Thursday, Sept. 21, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Antioch United Methodist Church
Tickets are available now at each of these locations, or they may be purchased online at www.littlepantriesofhc.com. There are three ticket options. The $20 ticket option includes a soup dinner and a handmade souvenir bowl. The $10 ticket option includes the soup dinner only. $5 tickets are available for the soup dinner only for children ages five and under. For more information about tickets, email littlepantriesofhc@gmail.com.
Additionally, there are a few options remaining for participation in bowl painting parties:
Thursday, August 17, 4 – 7 p.m. – Antioch United Methodist Church
Saturday, August 19, 1 – 3 p.m. – Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Sunday, August 27, 2 – 5 p.m. – Trinity United Methodist Church
About the Little Pantries of Henry County:
The first little pantry in Henry County was built in the Atkins-Porter neighborhood by Liam McDevitt as his Eagle Scout project. That first pantry showed how large the problem of food insecurity is in Henry County and led to the construction of more pantries and the founding of Little Pantries of Henry County, a non-profit organized in 2021 to help those in our community who have food insecurities. The organization started small, but has grown into an inter-faith group of churches and other organizations supporting 16 pantries, including a pet pantry at the Henry County Animal Shelter location in Paris, Tn. You may find more information about The Little Pantries of Henry County at www.littlepantriesofhc.com.
About Empty Bowls:
Empty Bowls is a worldwide movement that provides an opportunity for community members and artisans to raise funds to support food-related charities in their communities. More information may be found at www.emptybowls.com.
Photo: Local potter Martin Paschall oversees the July ‘throw-a-thon’ at the Paris Academy for the Arts. Shannon McFarlin photo.