High school hosts lunch to benefit The Kitchen

Bailey Alternative High School, 501 W. Central, is hosting its annual Empty Bowls event noon–1 p.m.

Handmade ceramic bowls crafted by Bailey students can be purchased for $10 and filled with soup and served with a roll for lunch. Guests may keep their bowls, which were created through the school's partnership with Drury University.

All proceeds from the luncheon will benefit The Kitchen Inc. Kitchen spokesperson Mary Ann Johnston said the event raised about $500 last year and has consistently raised its intake since it began in 1999.

The organization is recovering from an increased need for food last year after refugees from hurricanes Katrina and Rita found their way to Springfield. Despite a rise in donations during the holiday season, The Kitchen still has shelves to fill, Johnston said.

“There's always a need for food because we have so many to care for,” she said.

The event is held on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in recognition of King's belief that all people can be great because they can serve, according to a news release from Springfield Public Schools.