Local celebrities have made clay bowls to be offered to the public Friday via a silent action held in conjunction with the Empty Bowls Luncheon.

Alabama First Lady Dianne Bentley has crafted a bowl for the silent auction and will also attend the luncheon.

“We are very honored to have the support of Mrs. Bentley,” said Kim May, Pike County Salvation Army director.  “She was very willing to participate and we appreciate her support and that of all our ‘celebrity’ bowlers.”

Other celebrity “bowlers” include Troy University First Lady Janice Hawkins, Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford, Sen. Martha Roby, Larry and Janice Blakeney, “Sister” Schubert, Dr. Maryjo Cochran, Walter Black, Ralph Black and Jerrel Jernigan.

“Because of their support of the Empty Bowls Luncheon, empty bowls will be filled and the hungry will be fed,” May said.

That’s the two-fold purpose of the Pike County Salvation Army’s Empty Bowls Luncheon from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Friday at Bush Memorial Baptist Church in Troy.

The public is invited to attend the Third Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon. Tickets are $20 each and include lunch and a handcrafted ceramic bowl to take home. The Empty Bowls Luncheon is a fundraiser for the Pike County Salvation Army. The funds raised will help supply the food pantry.

“We have a lot of people in Pike County who are truly hungry,” May said. “The demands on our food pantry are great year around. The Empty Bowls Luncheon makes it possible for us to meet those needs – for us to feed the hungry in Pike County.”

The Empty Bowls Luncheon will offer about 100 bowls to be “filled.”

The bowls were made by professional artists who participate in the Alabama Clay Conference, Troy University art students, participants at the Colley Senior Complex and members of Leadership Pike.

“Of course, the earlier you get to the luncheon the greater your choices will be,” May said.

The Empty Bowls Luncheon will feature homemade soups of various kinds, camp stew and chili, Sister Schubert rolls, drinks and several dessert choices including layer cakes, pound cakes and bread pudding.

Tickets are required for the Empty Bowls Luncheon; however, those who only want to bid on the celebrity bowls will not need a ticket to do so.

Tickets for the Empty Bowls Luncheon are available at the Salvation Army Service Center and Thrift Store on South Brundidge Street in Troy and at the door on Friday.