Ben Anderson
The Times
Updated: Sep 21, 2022, 1:12 PM
Published: Sep 20, 2022, 5:02 PM

The Empty Bowl Luncheon on Tuesday, Sept. 20, raised more than $217,000, which will allow the Georgia Mountain Food Bank to provide nearly 1.1 million meals to those in need, according to Executive Director Kay Blackstock.

Held at the Lanier Technical College Ramsey Conference Center after going virtual in 2020 and 2021, the in-person event sold all 95 tables, Blackstock said.

During the event, the food bank presented awards to the following volunteers: Jackie Pray, Philip Sartain Individual Volunteer of the Year; Gainesville City Councilman George Wangemann, Mike Banks Reflections of the Heart; Free Chapel, Jim Walters Corporate Volunteer of the Year.


Hand painted bowls are chose by visitors Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at the Lanier Technical College Ramsey Conference Center during the 22nd annual Georgia Food Bank Empty Bowl Luncheon raising money to fight hunger. The event raises enough to provide hundreds of thousands of meals to those struggling with hunger in Hall, Lumpkin, Union, Forsyth, and Dawson counties. – photo by Scott Rogers


Hundreds gather Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at the Lanier Technical College Ramsey Conference Center for the 22nd annual Georgia Food Bank Empty Bowl Luncheon raising money to fight hunger. The event raises enough to provide hundreds of thousands of meals to those struggling with hunger in Hall, Lumpkin, Union, Forsyth, and Dawson counties. – photo by Scott Rogers




Gainesville councilman George Wangemann receives the Mike Banks Reflections of the Heart Award Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, during the 22nd annual Georgia Mountain Food Bank Empty Bowl Luncheon at the Lanier Technical College Ramsey Conference Center. – photo by Scott Rogers


Colton Donino holds up a bowl being auctioned Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at the Lanier Technical College Ramsey Conference Center during the 22nd annual Georgia Food Bank Empty Bowl Luncheon raising money to fight hunger. The event raises enough to provide hundreds of thousands of meals to those struggling with hunger in Hall, Lumpkin, Union, Forsyth, and Dawson counties. – photo by Scott Rogers


Rebecca Thurmon holds a bowl painted by actor Kenan Thompson up for auction Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2022, at the Lanier Technical College Ramsey Conference Center during the 22nd annual Georgia Food Bank Empty Bowl Luncheon raising money to fight hunger. The event raises enough to provide hundreds of thousands of meals to those struggling with hunger in Hall, Lumpkin, Union, Forsyth, and Dawson counties. – photo by Scott Rogers