For some area residents, the idea of going to bed hungry is something they’ve never had to worry about. However, it’s a part of everyday life for thousands in the Tri-State. The Huntington Area Food Bank (HAFB) is partnering with several local organizations in an effort to raise awareness and help change this trend.

The 10th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser will take place Friday, April 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 1015 5th Ave., in Huntington.

Empty Bowls is a national initiative. Huntington’s version offers patrons a handmade ceramic bowl and modest soup lunch for a $12 donation to the Huntington Area Food Bank.

“The lunch is modest on purpose,” Jaye Ike, special projects coordinator for the College of Fine Arts at Marshall, said. “It serves as a reminder that many in our area go hungry. We are fortunate that our “modest” lunch is a variety of delicious items donated from area businesses, so it may not seem modest to some; but our goal is that it be a small soup lunch.”