Bowled Over with Generosity

As part of our Food First™ program, First Choice Power was honored to once again serve a Soup Ladle sponsor of the Empty Bowls Luncheon and Silent Auction, a benefit for the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley. With music from local performers and a silent auction of larger bowls and art, the event brought the community together to fight hunger in our community.

Area restaurants provided guests with a delicious lunch of soup, salad, bread and dessert. After eating, every guest chose one of 2,000 beautiful one-of-a-kind bowls to take home, a reminder that there are still empty bowls in our communities. The event raised more than $33,000 and awareness about the plight of hunger in the Rio Grande Valley.

First Choice Power Business Development Manager Sonia Lopez is currently on the board and has served on the committee for the event for the past several years.  This year she helped encouraged restaurants to participate. “September is Hunger Action Month, so it’s a great time for the annual Empty Bowls luncheon,” Sonia said. “Because each guest takes home a beautiful handmade bowl, it really helps remind them that hunger is an ongoing problem. Each time they see their bowl, they remember the event and want to do more to help fight hunger.”

For more information about the event, contact Karen Featherston of the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley at (956) 682-8101, ext. 35 or karenf@foodbankrgv.com.