Empty Bowls to Raise Awareness for Cape Girardeau’s Hunger Issues
02/28/2017

The 11th Annual Empty Bowls event supporting the Salvation Army’s efforts to fight hunger locally will be held from noon to 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 5, at the Salvation Army Worship and Community Center, 701 Good Hope Street in Cape Girardeau. Tickets for the event are $12, which can be purchased at the door, and participants receive a soup meal and a handmade pottery bowl of their choice. Participants will have two soups to choose from, rolls, brownies and cake. Dr. Joel Ramdial, instructor of nutrition and dietetics at Southeast Missouri State University, says the community-wide event is to increase awareness of hunger issues in the Cape Girardeau area. “I hope they develop a passion for serving the community, raising awareness of nutrition-related issues that may impact their future communities and learn from experiential opportunities to apply what they learn in their classes,” said Ramdial. Cape Girardeau’s first Empty Bowls event was in 2006. All proceeds benefit the Salvation Army, and Ramdial estimates $57,000 has been donated since 2006. This year approximately 200-300 ceramic bowls will be available to purchase and are made entirely by Southeast students, faculty and community members. Approximately 15-20 students will be involved in this event. Thirteen of those students will be from the FN 450 Food Service Operations course with others joining them from the Student Dietetic Association. Tickets for Empty Bowls are available for purchase at the door from noon to 2 p.m. March 5 at the Salvation Army Worship and Community Center. For more information, contact Dr. Joel Ramdial at (573) 986-4919 or jramdial@semo.edu.