As members of the Wakulla community, everybody has a vested interest in ensuring there’s enough food to feed our hungry.

In fact, the issue of hunger in Wakulla has been such a concern that the Wakulla News has dedicated extensive coverage to this matter in recent publications.

In response to this crisis, local churches have been hard at work in collecting and distributing donations of food to those in need.  Many non-perishables have been provided to these food pantries as a result of donations from families, individuals and youth in the community in coordination with the IFAS Extension Office.  And, as an outreach of Operation Santa, volunteers in the Wakulla County Coalition for Youth (WCCY) have met multiple times with faith leaders to discuss strategies to provide assistance in addressing this crisis.   As a result, the WCCY has taken a more active role in providing solutions, from creating awareness that has resulted in a significant increase in the volume of donated food at the IFAS Extension Office, to submitting a grant to a major corporation for much needed funds.  Additionally, there have been generous donations made to a Wakulla Coalition fund dedicated to the provision of food.  However, there is more to do and following are a couple of opportunities for you to get involved.

Currently there are two large fundraisers underway in Wakulla with the goal of raising more than $6,000 to buy food. 

Last year during Operation Santa, a mom donated a $400 mini-John Deere Tractor, 2 speed, with reverse and AM/FM radio, the perfect size for a 3-5 year old.  Operation Santa kept that expensive donation knowing there was a bigger purpose.  Three hundred raffle tickets have been printed at no cost and are now being sold for $5 each throughout the county.  On Saturday, November 3, 2012, at 11am in Hudson Park, the winning ticket will be drawn for the John Deere tractor.  If you want the opportunity to win the most awesome present for your little one, go by the Wakulla News Office where raffle tickets can be purchased or call 926-3526 and we’ll arrange to get tickets to you.  The sale of just 300 raffle tickets will result in $1500 for the purchase of food.

The second fundraiser is called Empty Bowls Wakulla.  This effort is being organized through the Healing Arts of Wakulla County (HAWC), a new organization operating under the umbrella of the WCCY in coordination with the Arts in Medicine program at UF Shands.  HAWC is looking to raise $4000-5000 in additional funds for food through this fundraiser.   Haydee Jackley of Ribits Ceramic Studio is Wakulla’s Empty Bowls Chair.  You can be part of the project in one of two ways:

1)  Call Haydee at (850) 567-4212 to schedule a time for you, and as many of your friends as are interested, to donate $10 each in exchange for the painting of a soup bowl, signed by you, which will be fired and used at the Empty Bowls event on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at Hudson Park from 11am to 3pm.  Several businesses and churches have donated to this project.  One mom is hosting her daughter’s birthday party where children will paint and sign the bowls.  Several civic organizations are hosting painting parties where members will pay the $10 per bowl, paint and sign their bowls.  Several individuals have simply stopped into Ribits, donated $10 and painted and signed a bowl then and there.

2)  The second part of this fundraiser will be lunch/event ticket presales with 300 tickets presold.  Individuals with these $15 tickets will arrive at Hudson Park on Sat., Nov. 3 from 11am to 3pm, with Empty Bowls ticket in hand, and then they will select a bowl from among 300 hand painted bowls.  Their bowl will then be filled with delicious, high quality, homemade soup prepared by Shelley Swenson, Madeleine Carr and Elma Gillette.  Homemade breads and tea will make for the perfect lunch on a gorgeous fall day.  There will also be a Bake Sale organized by Charlean Lanier, a silent auction of other donated art, and a keepsake Wakulla Empty Bowls 2012 recipe card with the three soups prepared especially for the event.  While at the event, there will be music, Stone Soup Play (performed by children).   There will also be a Craft Show, just in time for holiday gifts.  If interested in being a craft/art vendor, please call Haydee Jackley at (850) 567-4212, or ribitsceramic@yahoo.com.  Click here to learn more about Empty Bowls Wakulla.

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