Be the Change of the Florida Keys, Inc. (BTC) would like to invite the community to a “Soup-A-Bowl” Dinner Fest in each area of the Keys during the month of March.
On Saturday, March 3, St. Columba Episcopal Church in Marathon will host the first of three Keys-wide events from 6-8 pm. On Saturday, March 10, Soup-A-Bowl dinners will be served in Key West at Glad Tidings Tabernacle from 5-7 pm and in the Upper Keys at Island Christian School gymnasium from 6-8 pm.
This is the first year that the event will be held in Marathon, the third year of the event in the Upper Keys and the second year of the event in the Lower Keys. Youth and adult volunteers of BTC, Island Christian School Inspiring New Change and Art Clubs along with the area host organizations plan a dinner much like a “soup kitchen” that serves soup, salad, bread and beverage. The suggested donation for the meal is $5. The Soup-A-Bowl event gives youth the opportunity to display their artwork and demonstrate that meaningful service can be achieved through the arts. Part of the service aspect of this project is to raise awareness about hunger, poverty and homelessness through the creation and use of these artistic ceramic soup bowls in a soup kitchen style dinner.
The event is modeled after “Empty Bowls” project, a national service learning movement and is planned as a part of the Be the Change PeaceJam Youth Board’s Global Call to Action project for this year. The youth board began the event three years ago as it developed service and service learning projects that align with the “10 Global Call to Action Issues” identified by ten Nobel Peace Laureates in the PeaceJam Curriculum. These issues range from equal access to water and the protection of the environment to human rights, breaking the cycle of violence and ending racism and hate. This year the focus is “Equal Access to Water.” Part of the proceeds from the event will be designated to benefit local charities that serve families and children.
Florida Keys Council of the Arts is supporting the Marathon event through their ArtReach Grant. This project is sponsored in part by the Florida Keys Council of the Arts, the State of Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture and private donations.
