Our Mission
“Feed My Sheep” is the mission given us by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. “Feed My Sheep” is the continuing Christian responsibility, or contract, entered into by His followers. “Feed My Sheep” reflects the purpose of the Greenwood Soup Kitchen Ministry. More Details
In The Community
On average, we serve about 75 guests per day. Learn More
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2023 Empty Bowls…Two separate nights:
Wednesday, October 18, 2023 – TAKE OUT
Thursday, October 19, 2023 – SIT- DOWN
EMPTY BOWLS…15 YEARS OF CARING AND SHARING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Many people do not consider hunger an issue in America and especially here in Greenwood. But the fact is the Greenwood Soup Kitchen served almost 21,000 meals last year. Tough times mean more hungry people need help and now entering its fifteenth year, Empty Bowls is helping to meet that need.
This fall, you may choose to attend our Empty Bowls fundraiser on either of two consecutive nights, in two separate formats; Wednesday Oct 18th will offer TAKE-OUT meal tickets, in two time slots, 5:30 or 6:30. Thursday Oct 19th will offer SIT- DOWN meal tickets, also in two time slots, 5:30 or 6:30. All guests will choose their bowl from our gymnasium display and be served a meal of gourmet soup, corn bread and dessert in either take-out or sit-down format. Ticket prices are $25 for adults and $15 for children 12 and under and are available starting September 5 by calling Norm Fawcett at 864-227-3421.
Recognizing that our main priority is to provide for the safety of our sponsors, guests and volunteers, the objectives of our hybrid format and timing are to reduce the number of guests that will be gathering in the United Center gymnasium and the number of guests being served at each table in the dining room.
So, what exactly is Empty Bowls? Founded in 1992 and active in dozens of countries throughout the world, Empty Bowls is an international movement that marries local artists with local organizations to fight hunger. The Empty Bowls tradition started here in Greenwood in 2009 when some local potters began thinking of a way they could make a difference in our community. Donna Conley, a member of the Greenwood Area Studio Potters (GASP), saw an Empty Bowls event in Chicago and thought that GASP could do something similar in Greenwood. Laura Bachinski, a member of GASP and the Greenwood County Medical Alliance (GCMA) knew that the Alliance was looking for a worthy local event to support with their organizational talents, so Donna and Laura came to our Soup Kitchen with the idea. Not too long afterwards, the Greenwood Woodworkers Guild (GWG) joined our group.
Last year, GASP, GWG, pARTners in Clay, Main and Maxwell Artists and Friends, the Visual Arts Society of Erskine, the Basket Weavers Guild, Sunrise Stained Glass Studio, the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Lakelands, the Clinton High School Art Club and many other local artists supported the cause. In addition to some very special Soup Kitchen "regulars", we had volunteers from Lander University directing traffic, our GCMA families and Emerald High School Interact Club serving our guests and students from Greenwood High School Interact Club helping with the major tasks of receiving over 750 bowls and the set-up of the gymnasium Bowl Room. Empty Bowls has become a fundraiser supported by the entire Greenwood community...restaurants, corporate sponsors, high school students, the artists above and, importantly, all our local friends who have purchased over 500 tickets annually...resulting in our Empty Bowls event to “selling out” every year since it was conceived.
These local artists make over 650 hand crafted, decorative bowls (that they usually sell at art and craft shows) and donate them to our Soup Kitchen. All of our organizers sell tickets to the event and ask area businesses and individuals to provide sponsorships. When you arrive the night of the event, you choose your favorite bowl from the hundreds on display and enjoy a meal of gourmet soup and cornbread or homemade rolls (supplied by 15 local restaurants) and dessert (supplied by GCMA). You then take your chosen bowl home to serve as a reminder of all the “Empty Bowls” there are in the world.
Last year we raised over $36,000 and, over the past 14 years, Empty Bowls has contributed close to $400,000 to help feed our hungry neighbors.
The need is still great…following 2 ½ years of serving take-home meals for 100-125 guests per day throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, we reopened our dining room for daily hot meals on Labor Day, last year. Our guests were VERY appreciative!!
We hope you will appreciate the options provided by our hybrid format and will support us again this year!!
Watch our Facebook page, for more exciting information.
REMEMBER...Bowls make GREAT Christmas gifts!!!