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Photos: Empty Bowls Event Draws Huge Crowd to Support Hunger and Health Coalition

By Jessica Isaacs | jessica@highcountrypress.com

Photos by Ken Ketchie

An impressive crowd showed up at Watauga High School on Saturday for the annual Empty Bowls Supper to support the Hunger and Health Coalition. The success was made possible by the hard work of student volunteers, participating restaurants, business sponsors and event coordinator Whit Whitaker.

The event featured food items from Woodland’s Barbecue, the New Public House, Pepper’s Restaurant, Troy’s 105 Diner, the Speckled Trout, F.A.R.M. Café, Casa Rustica, Bare Essentials, along with more than 36 dozen rolls from Stick Boy Bread Co. and soup from Stick Boy Kitchen.

The young artists behind the old time string group known as the Tater Hill Mashers — Wesley Coatney, Anni Burnett, Henry Coatney, Asa Nelson and Sophia Burnett — kept the crowd moving with live music throughout the afternoon.

Empty Bowls 2016

Not only was he pleased by the number of folks who showed up for dinner, Whitaker said he was blown away by the passion and energy for service that his student volunteers showed on Saturday.

“They showed up in great numbers, they were just wonderful, they stayed until the end and we cleaned up in no time. I can’t say enough positive things about them,” he said. “It was really, really good to work with such a great group of students and student leaders. We couldn’t do it without them.”

Although final numbers aren’t available yet, Whitaker said he thinks funds raised will break $11,000 this year for the HHC.

“It’s always really good to have students involved in raising money to help their community,” said Elizabeth Lee, volunteer coordinator at the HHC. “We’ve had this event going on for 15 years now and it’s always a huge fundraiser for us, and it really helps our neighbors in need.”

Stay tuned for more information! We’ll give you an updated on final fundraising totals when the numbers are available.

In the meantime, check out these photos from the event!

Empty Bowls 2016

Empty Bowls 2016

Empty Bowls 2016

Empty Bowls 2016

Empty Bowls 2016

Empty Bowls 2016

Empty Bowls 2016

Empty Bowls 2016

Empty Bowls 2016

Empty Bowls 2016

Empty Bowls 2016

Empty Bowls 2016

Empty Bowls 2016