The Pantry Board would like to offer our sincere thanks to all of the wonderful people that supported and volunteered to serve at our “Empty Bowls Fundraiser 2017” on Feb. 14. Filling a bowl with soup for lunch seems such a simple task, but far too many people in our community have neither the bowl nor the soup! Empty Bowls helps to support the 12,000 meals provided yearly for our needy citizens.

We especially would like to thank the Oxford Conference Center; Hollis Green, Director; Micah Quinn, Events Manager; and the staff for the use of their facility and especially for their help.

Great big hugs and thanks to Ole Miss for their support throughout the years and all of the Ole Miss Mud Daubers: Professor Matt Long, Andrew McIntyre, Preston Tolbert, Nick Meyer, William McKinney, Ray Brown, Hailey Hodge, Nicki Georgis, Aston Keen, Sara Tobert, Kendall McDonald, Cassie Kuykendal, Emma Wilson, Sarah Wilson, Doug Caulfield, and Sarah Teasley. Local potters were Ron Dale (Irondale Studio), Amy Marceaux (Marceaux & Co), Mary Saxton Loria, and Michael P. Satterfield (Satterfield’s Pottery).

Great big hugs and thanks to our soup and bread donors. Soups: Ajax, Boure’, Country Club of Oxford, Fat Eddie’s, Grit, A&N Catering, James Food Center Pat Patterson, Lenora’s, McAlister’s, McEwen’s, Newk’s, No Time 2 Cook, Party Waiting to Happen, Oby’s, Old Venice Pizza, Oxford University Club, Proud Larry’s, Rafter’s, Ravine, Saint Leo’s, Taylor Catering, The Main Event Catering, and Volta. Bread donors: Bottletree Bakery, Aramark, Ole Miss, Piggly Wiggly in Batesville, and Ajax.

Our sincere thanks and appreciation to Chef Scott Caradine, owner of Proud Larry’s, and his assistant Jon Myrick. Once again they helped to set up and keep our kitchen organized during the luncheon.

Thanks for the PR: Oxford Eagle, Hotty Toddy, Chamber of Commerce, Invitation Oxford, and The Ole Miss Daily Mississippian.

We are all blessed to live in such a caring, generous community!

Barbara J. Smith

The Pantry