The Pike County Salvation Army’s 2016 Empty Bowls Luncheon fundraiser is in the books and by all accounts it was a great success.

“We had a great turnout for our 7th Annual Empty Bowls Luncheon,” said Pike County Salvation Army Director Kim May. “I believe we had more people this year than last year. We had delicious soups and desserts. We had a huge number of handcraft bowls for ticket holders to choose from and a large silent auction table of celebrity bowls. We had dedicated volunteers and an inspiring ‘Potter’s Sermon’ from the Rev. Greg Aman. We had a wonderful day and we thank everyone who helped make it that way.”

May said it will be several days before a final total of giving is available for the annual fundraiser but it was very generous.

“I’m reminded of a story about a man who was taken on a tour of hell and heaven,” she said. “When he went to hell, the people there were hungry and trying to eat but they couldn’t because the spoons were larger than their arms.”

When the man visited heaven, he found the same situation with the spoons being longer than the arms of the people.

“But they were not hungry because they had learned to feed each other,” May said. “At the Salvation Army, we can feed the hungry, too. It is our goal to raise money to feed the people in our area who are hungry and help bring about an attitude that will not allow hunger to exist. Empty Bowls is a way for us to reach that goal, to achieve the mission.”

May said her hope is that those who selected an “empty bowl” to take home will often be reminded that there are thousands of people around the world whose bowls are always empty.

“We have many people in our area who go to bed hungry,” she said. “Some might think that it’s not happening here in Pike County but we have a lot of people in need.”

May said it was the generosity of all those who made Empty Bowls 2016 a success – the sponsors, those who made bowls and donated bowls, those who donated soups and desserts, those who volunteered, those who promoted the event and those who bought tickets.

“All helped make life a little bit better for friends and neighbors in need,” May said.

“We can’t say ‘thank you’ enough.”

The Salvation Army, an international movement, is an evangelical part of the universal Christian Church. Its message is based on the Bible. Its ministry is motivated by the love of God. Its mission is to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and to meet human needs in His name without discrimination.