(Posted May 1, 2006)

HUNTINGDON, Pa. -- Two Juniata College student groups are collaborating to organize a soup dinner event designed to raise money to benefit Huntingdon's food bank at the First United Methodist Church in Huntingdon.

The dinner, which is at 6 p.m. Friday, May 5 at the Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Huntingdon, requires a minimum donation of $10 for adults and $3 for children under 6. Patrons of the event who have paid the adult price will get not only a hearty meal, but also a hand-made ceramic soup bowl from the college's renowned pottery program. The event, titled "Empty Bowls," is a nationwide event designed to focus attention on world hunger.

Tickets to the event are available beginning April 24 in Ellis Hall or by calling (814) 641-3000. Juniata students also visited local churches April 23 to sell tickets: Huntingdon Presbyterian Church, St. James Lutheran Church, 15th Street United Methodist Church, Stone Church of the Brethren, Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the Christian and Missionary Alliance Church, St. John's Episcopal Church and First United Methodist Church.

Juniata's event, which is sponsored by PAX-O, the student club for peace and conflict studies, and the ceramic studio, is designed as a benefit, and also as an outreach project between students and the local community.

A variety of soups and breads will be available for the event, provided by local restaurants such as Mimi's, Hoss's, Memories, Walt's Caf�©, Boxers, Bric-A-Brac, Weis Markets and Sodexho Campus Services Division, the food service provider for Juniata College.

Juniata's students are making 250 ceramic bowls for the event. Even Juniata College President Tom Kepple has created a bowl for the dinner. At the end of the dinner all adult guests are invited to keep their ceramic bowls.

"The empty ceramic bowls at the end of the meal is a reminder that there are always empty bowls in the world," says Karin Brown, a senior from Silver Spring, Md. studying politics. "Soup and bread will be donated by local restaurants and stores and we hope this will help foster community between Juniata college students, staff and the Huntingdon community."

Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.