Dear Friends,

The 4th Annual Gary Erickson Empty Bowls Fundraiser will take place on Sunday, March 25th from 11-2 in the Janet Wallace Fine Arts Commons on Macalester's campus. This event was started by Professor Gary Erickson to connect his passions for art and addressing food insecurity. We continue this project in his memory. Attendees on March 25th will be able to make a donation, choose a bowl that was created for this project at Macalster, and enjoy a delicious bowl of soup. If you are unable to attend, you are still able to donate!

We hope to rotate among different Macalester community partners that address economic and food insecruity issues. This year we are working with Neighborhood House, an organization on the West Side of St. Paul that Macalester has partnered with for over 100 years. In Minnesota, statistics tell us that 1 in 10 adults and 1 of 7 children experience food insecurity. We can do something about this. Our event this year is part of March Food Drive, a statewide campaign through Minnesota Food Share. Last year, Neighborhood House was able to raise over $175,000/pounds of food for families who participate in our program.

Here’s how you can help:

• Follow this link and donate to my fund me link by going here:   link
  
• Money goes three to four times further than food donations, since Neighborhood House purchases food in bulk. It takes just $36 to feed a family of four for a week. Host a food drive of your own (we’ll help you figure out how to do it!).
• Volunteer your time. Contact the Civic Engagement Center at cec@macalester.edu if you are interested in additional community engagement opportunities related to economic justice.
  

Thanks for considering participating in this event. I know we can make a difference in helping bridge the food gap in Minnesota. You can see more information about Neighborhood House and the March Food Drive at www.neighb.org