QUINCY, Ill. (WGEM) -
Hundreds of community members came out to Quincy High School as visitors and volunteers Saturday to eat soup, browse bowls and support Horizon Social Services at their only annual fundraising event.
Officials said last year's Empty Bowls event raised nearly $20,000 to help the organization serve more than 25,000 meals between their soup kitchen and pantry.
For soup eaters, and bowl browsers, the cause was an eye opener.
"We don't think about a lot of times the meals that we eat, and how grateful we should be and we should also give back to others and help them when they're hungry," said Ellen McIntyre, whose children volunteered at the event.
Horizon Executive Director Sarah Stephens said there is more of a need than most think.
"I think a lot of people don't realize how many folks face hunger insecurity in our community. There's a report from Feeding America that says one in four children in Adams County are not sure where their next meal is coming from," she said.
Stephens added that the event makes it so that Horizon can afford to provide meals to area families who rely on the organization.
Each visitor took a hand-painted bowl home with them from the event. The event had nearly 1,200 bowls painted by Quincy Public and Catholic schools, along with Quincy University.
A number of local Quincy businesses, churches and school contributed food, raffle items and other goods to the event.
