The Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County announces its third year of participating in the national Empty Bowls project.

Two years ago the CAC’s annual Christmas luncheons began a new tradition where as in previous years, guests enjoyed a festive holiday atmosphere with fine food and live music at the historic Roberts-Mozley House, but they also donated in order to select a handmade ceramic bowl created by local potters, art students and other volunteers to take home with them after they have enjoyed the soup, salad and bread donated by Red Lobster and The Olive Garden, local Darden Group restaurants. Their donations support A Gift of Love’s Back Pack project in which needy school children get backpacks of food to carry home for the weekend.

This new tradition has proven so successful that the Cultural Arts Council is offering the Empty Bowls Luncheons again this December. The Douglasville Empty Bowls luncheons will include two seatings on Friday at 11 a.m. and at 1 p.m. (with food donated by Red Lobster and The Olive Garden). Reservations may be made by calling the CAC at 770-949-2787.

“Everyone has such a wonderful time together, and they support a great cause,” said Laura C. Lieberman, executive director of the Cultural Arts Council.

“This event is truly in the spirit of the holiday season. More than 100 talented and generous people helped make bowls for our project this year!”

The Empty Bowls project began in 1990 when a high school teacher in Michigan decided to have his students do a project on world hunger. The Empty Bowls project has grown into a national initiative, raising millions of dollars to combat hunger with events held throughout the U.S. and around the world.

Basically, students, potters and anyone else make ceramic bowls for a fund-raising meal. Guests are served a simple meal – and they get to choose a unique ceramic bowl to take home. Participating groups select a local food bank, soup kitchen or other organization, particularly those that support distributing food to hungry children, to receive the proceeds of The Empty Bowl event.

The Cultural Arts Council in Douglas County selected A Gift of Love with all proceeds from its Christmas luncheons going to support its “Back Pack Project.” A former school food service worker, Juanita Clay started the project because she knew the number of students in the Douglas County Schools who started school on Monday morning hungry.

Through the Back Pack project, every Friday afternoon needy children in Douglas County schools receive a new backpack filled with healthy, non-perishable foods (two breakfasts, snacks and dinners – about the limit of 20 pounds).

Last year with the help of the bowl makers and luncheons guests, CAC raised more than $1,000 so that children in three Douglas County elementary schools received full backpacks until the end of the school year.

With the current economic situation, the Cultural Arts Council hopes to raise even more funds this year and to help meet the increased needs for assistance answered by A Gift of Love’s Back Pack Project.