Empty Bowls

Ticket holders will CHOOSE their drive-through time:

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. OR 12:45 p.m. – 2 p.m.

Empty Bowls Marketplace

Beginning October 1st, you can shop ONLINE for locally handcrafted gifts that support a good cause and bring extra joy to both the giver and recipient. The Empty Bowls Marketplace features more than 100 bowls painted by Nassau County residents who donated their time and talents. Barnabas extends a special thanks to Lynn Tennille Photography for donating her time to photograph all pieces of artwork for this effort.

An empty bowl is a symbol of hunger. In order to support our neighbors coping with food insecurity, Barnabas will help raise awareness with the 2020 Empty Bowls EXTRAVAGANZA. The Ritz-Carlton and the Omni Amelia Island Plantation Resort are donating a simple meal of soup, bread and dessert.

The Empty Bowls event will be a little different this year and 100% a drive-thru experience! Guests will be able to enjoy entertainment along the drive-thru route and will receive a beautiful hand-painted bowl to take home. This provides a permanent reminder of the “bowls” we still need to fill for our neighbors who struggle with hunger.

VIEW THE 2019 EMPTY BOWLS EVENT VIDEO BELOW:

THE REALITY OF NASSAU’S HUNGER PROBLEM

In Reality, in Nassau County, more than 7,000 of our neighbors are rarely sure how they’ll get enough to eat in the next few days. Over 2,000 of them are children. During the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for food has more than tripled.

OUR ONGOING HUNGER SOLUTION

Barnabas operates Nassau County’s largest Food Pantry. Also, Barnabas established the Hunger Coalition of Nassau, where we work with our partners to distribute 300,000+ lbs of food to our neighbors yearly. As a result, these families will not go hungry. To meet the increased demand during the COVID-19 pandemic, Barnabas significantly expanded food distribution sites across the county and established new community partnerships to feed thousands more families with fresh and nutritious food.

THE REALITY OF NASSAU’S HEALTHCARE PROBLEM

An estimated 10,000 people in our county lack health insurance. Uninsured, lower income adults in Nassau have significant medical needs. Even more, they have limited options for adequate care. As a result, an emergency room may be the only choice. During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients continued to seek medical care from Barnabas and mobile medical care was established.

OUR ONGOING HEALTHCARE SOLUTION

Barnabas Health Services provides affordable health and dental care for our neighbors in need. As a result, this purpose improves their health and reduces emergency resources. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Barnabas provided telehealth medical services and remained open for emergency medical and dental services.

THE REALITY OF NASSAU’S POVERTY PROBLEM

Most noteworthy, many Nassau families are one paycheck away from crisis. In contrast, our community’s unemployment rate has dropped, but many workers have either stopped looking or are in much lower paid jobs than before. As a result, their families’ personal resources are stretched beyond the limit. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Barnabas significantly increased our support to stabilize housing situations and help with critical household expenses. Thousands of locals who have never sought help before are looking to us for help and we have pledged to meet their needs for as long as we can.

THE EMPTY BOWLS SOLUTION

Above all, Empty Bowls is an effort to combat hunger and all its effects. Barnabas brought Empty Bowls to Nassau County to help spread awareness in our community, to continue the battle against hunger, food insecurity and poverty by connecting people with the help and hope they need to become self-sufficient.

LEGACY SPONSOR

PRESENTING SPONSOR

PLATINUM SPONSORS

ANONYMOUS | J. SHANNON O’CONNER & THE O’CONNER FAMILIES | JEFF AND MELONIE MURPHY | JOHN AND DEBBIE BAECHLE | THE AMELIA ISLAND INDUSTRIAL PARK

GOLD SPONSORS

BOB & JOAN OTTENRITTER | JIM & SUZIE HOCKER | JOSEPH & DRENDA VIJUK FOUNDATION | KEN & CONNIE MCDANIEL | PAMELA FOX | ROD & BETSY ODOM | WILLIAM & SHEILA BRADDOCK

For more information about sponsorship, or if you’re interested in becoming a sponsor, click the button below:

Contact for More Information

Tania Yount, Barnabas Chief Development Officer (904) 261-7000 x107

Email: tyount@BarnabasNassau.org

Ann Salleras, Development Assistant (904) 261-7000 x106

Email: asalleras@BarnabasNassau.org

Barnabas is registered with the State of Florida and is in good standing with regard to its Solicitation of Contributions registration (#SC-12662).

“BARNABAS CENTER, INC., 1303 JASMINE ST., STE. 101, FERNANDINA BEACH, FL 32034, IS A NON-PROFIT 501(C)3 ORGANIZATION, AND IS REGISTERED WITH THE FLORIDA DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES, REGISTRATION NO. CH4494. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE (800-435-7352) OR BY CONTACTING THE DIVISION AT HTTP://WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.”

Donor Privacy Statement: Barnabas Center, Inc. will not sell, trade or share a donor’s personal information with other persons or organizations, nor send donor mailings on behalf of other organizations.