Empty Bowls can feed the hungry.

That’s an odd thing.

But that’s exactly how the Empty Bowls project works.

Kim May, director of the Pike County Salvation Army, said the purchase of an “Empty Bowl” will help feed the hungry in the Pike County area. Then, that bowl may be filled with a choice of several soups to be enjoyed in the fellowship of friends and neighbors.

The Empty Bowls luncheon will from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Friday at the Colley Senior Complex annex on Elm Street. Tickets are $20 and include a handmade ceramic bowl of one’s choice and the soup lunch with beverage and dessert.

“This is the second year for the Empty Bowls luncheon and we expect it to be as successful as last year’s event,” May said. “All of the bowls are handmade and are worth more than $20 apiece. The bowls were crafted by artists who have participated in the Alabama Clay Conference, by Larry Percy and several of his pottery students at Troy University and by the pottery classes at the Colley Senior Complex.”

There will also be bowls handcrafted by local celebrities and those bowls will be offered as silent auction items.

“We have several celebrity bowls that have been completed and expect several more by Friday,” May said. “Celebrity bowls have been made and donated by Jerrel Jernigan, former record breaking wide receiver for the Troy University Trojans, Troy Mayor Jimmy Lunsford, popular radio personality Ralph Black and Bear Woods of the Atlanta Falcons. Troy University Chancellor and Mrs. Jack Hawkins, Jr. designed a special bowl for the event and it will also be a silent auction item.

May said the funds raised by the Empty Bowl luncheon will be used to stock the Pike County Salvation Army food bank.

“All of the money that is raised will stay here in Pike County to help feed those in need,” she said. “So, we invite everyone to join us Friday for the Empty Bowl luncheon. Come, pick out a handmade pottery bowl to take home and enjoy lunch with us. The weather should be nice so we plan to have tables set up outside for those who would like to enjoy the sunshine, as well as tables inside.”

The “fillings” for the Empty Bowls will include camp stew, chili, chicken vegetable soup, beef stew, potato soup and professional chef Ron Case’s tortellini soup.

May said there will be about 100 Empty Bowls to fill and the belief is that this year’s effort to feed the hungry will reflect the generosity that has long been a trademark of Pike County.