by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The Second Harvest Foodbank of North Florida held its 25th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser at the Osborn Center Tuesday.
The organization’s mission is to wipe out hunger in the area and the fundraiser helps Second Harvest achieve that goal.
“We have an issue in Jacksonville,” said Thomas Mantz, executive director of Second Harvest North Florida. “No one should have to go home hungry and it’s a fixable problem.”
For the price of a ticket, attendees were able to pick out a ceramic bowl made by students from nearly 70 schools, which included elementary, middle and high schools and colleges, and sit down to a lunch of chicken soup, bread and water.
Attendance was estimated at 1,200 and the goal for the event was to raise $75,000. One dollar donated to Second Harvest generates six meals, or the equivalent of two days of food for a person in need.
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