As a reminder that "someone's bowl is always empty," special events that benefit local food pantries are held around the United States and the world as part of the Empty Bowl Project.

Locally, the fifth annual Empty Bowls event will be hosted by the Twin Valley Rotary Club on Friday, Nov. 5, from 4:30 to 7 p.m. at Conestoga Mennonite Church, 2779 Main St., Morgantown.

For a set donation, ticket holders will receive a handmade ceramic bowl and the opportunity to sample up to 10 soups. An admission fee will be collected for children under age 10, who will receive soup, but not a bowl. Takeouts will also be available.

All proceeds will go to the Twin Valley Food Pantry (TVFP), which is housed at the church.

"(People will) leave with an empty bowl to help remember the millions around the world who go to bed each night hungry," noted Rotary Club secretary Mary Ellen Mahan, event organizer.

The ceramic bowls given out during the event are made throughout the year by art students from Twin Valley High School (TVHS) and by residents of the Tel Hai Retirement Community in Honey Brook, as well as local professional potters. Rotary Club members also created ceramic bowls for the event during a workshop led by local pottery artist Jill Moyer.

The soup will be provided by local restaurants, including the Heritage Restaurant and the Windmill Family Restaurant, both located in Morgantown. Soup, along with bread donated by local businesses, including Shady Maple Farm Market, will be served by volunteers. Servers and volunteers will be masked and wearing gloves.

"We use the commercial kitchen at the church and soup is kept warm in (slow cookers)," Mahan explained. "We serve everything from lobster bisque to black bean soup. One year, five people made chicken corn chowder and there were three different types of chili (along with) tortellini soup and pizza soup. There are always one or two vegetarian options."

Help is provided throughout the event by TVHS students, local Girl Scouts and other volunteers. "It's a community event to help those who may be experiencing some hard times and need the services of the food pantry," noted Mahan. "It's an inexpensive (meal) and you are eating out for a good cause. It (has turned) into a night of fellowship and community."

The Twin Valley Rotary Club is a community service club. In addition to the Empty Bowls event, the club annually sponsors the Tri County Art Show and Sale, which features the work of local artists and potters and TVHS art students. The club financially supports local libraries and food pantries, sponsors the Student of the Month program at TVHS and awards student scholarships.

The Twin Valley Rotary Club meets on Wednesdays at 7:30 a.m. at the Windmill Family Restaurant, 2838 Main St., Morgantown. The next scheduled meeting will be on Nov. 3. Ken Ross, director of the Honey Brook Food Pantry, will be the guest speaker. Prospective club members are invited to attend.

To learn more about the club and the Empty Bowls event, visit http://www.twinvalleyrotary.org or search for "The Rotary Club of Twin Valley" on Facebook.