Good Samaritan Ministries’ annual Empty Bowls Project was held at the Brownwood Coliseum on Thursday with more than 1000 people in attendance, according to organizers.

“The whole idea behind the Empty Bowls Project is to raise awareness and funds for hunger relief,” said Angelia Bostick, Executive Director of Good Samaritan Ministries.  Bostick explained that at the end of the event, attendees take their empty bowls home as a reminder that there are those in our own community and around the world who have empty bowls and empty stomachs.

GSM Communications Director Misty Bowers stated this year’s event was another great success.

“All in all, on the day of the event, we brought in $27,052,” said Bowers.  “Our tithe of $2,705 will go to Heifer International leaving $24,347 to be divided among GSM’s six hunger ministries: Food Pantry, Food for Thought, Food for the Homeless, Homebound Program, Deer Project and Pig Project.”

New this year to the Empty Bowls event was the “Celebrity Auction,” which raised $2,485.  Being a new part of the fundraising event, organizers had no idea how successful the auction would be.  15 local celebrities including Brownwood Mayor Mr. Stephen Haynes, Early Mayor Dr. Robert Mangrum, Brownwood ISD Superintendent Dr. Joe Young, Early ISD Superintendent Mr. Wes Beck, Brookesmith ISD Superintendent Mr. Guy Birdwell, Howard Payne University President Dr. Bill Ellis, Early Chamber of Commerce Director Mrs. Shawn Russell, Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce Director Mr. Ray Tipton, Brownwood Chief of Police Mike Corley, Assistant Chief of Police James Fuller, Mrs. Lisa Tipton of Brownwood News, Mr. Carl Wayne of KOXE, Mr. Leland Acker of KXYL, Mr. Jay Polaski of KPSM and Mr. Joshua Peguero of KTXS painted bowls for the auction.  Rex Tackett of Wendlee Broadcasting was the auctioneer.

“We are more than thrilled about the auction, for this to be the first time for the auction, it was incredible,” said Bowers.  “It was so much fun to see how the community came together and gave us so much support.”

Bowers thanked the community as well as sponsors of the event for helping Good Samaritan with Empty Bowls,

“We would just like to thank the community for once again coming out to choose a bowl, have some soup, bid on bowls and provide for our friends and neighbors who are at risk of hunger through their support of Good Samaritan Ministries,” said Bowers.

For more information about Good Samaritan Ministries and its programs, or to make a donation