The Cultural Arts Council of Douglasville/Douglas County has announced its fifth year of participating in the national Empty Bowls project. Four years ago the CAC's annual Christmas luncheons began a new tradition–as in previous years, guests enjoy a festive holiday atmosphere with fine food and live music at the historic Roberts-Mozley House, but they also donate in order to select a handmade ceramic bowl created by local potters, art students and other volunteers to take home with them after they have enjoyed the soup, salad and bread donated by Red Lobster and The Olive Garden, local Darden Group restaurants.

Their donations support The Pantry again this year. This new tradition has proven so popular that the Cultural Arts Council is offering the Empty Bowls Holiday Luncheons for two days this year. The 2011 Douglasville Empty Bowls luncheons will include two seatings on Thursday,  Dec. 15 and Friday, Dec. 16 at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. 

On Thursday, pianist Nancy Whittenburger will play Christmas carols, and on Friday the Christian Community Orchestra's Violin Trio will perform traditional holiday music. Donations are $12 for CAC members and $15 for the general public. Reservations are required.

"This event is truly in the spirit of the holiday season," noted Laura C. Lieberman, executive director of the Cultural Arts Council. "More than 100 talented and generous people helped make bowls for our project this year  including professional artists whose work will be part of a silent auction–and this is CAC's only fundraiser during the year for something other than the arts. We are so pleased to give back to the neediest in our community, hungry children, through the arts. And everyone has such a wonderful time together, and they support a great cause."

In 1990, The Empty Bowls project began when a high school teacher in Michigan decided to have his students do a project on world hunger. The Empty Bowls project has grown into a national initiative, raising millions of dollars to combat hunger with events held throughout the U.S. and around the world. Basically, students, potters and others make ceramic bowls for the fundraiser. Guests are served a simple meal–and they get to choose a unique ceramic bowl to take home. Participating groups select a local food bank, soup kitchen or other organization, focusing on those that distribute food to hungry children, to receive the proceeds of The Empty Bowl event.