Students from many Sacramento high schools, Health Professions High School, Christian Brothers High School, El Camino Fundamental High School, Granite Bay High School, Highlands High School, Laguna Creek High School, Loretto High School, Pleasant Grove High School, San Juan High School and Sheldon High School, have been hard at work to support a program that pays for food and housing for Sacramento children who live in poverty - 17% of all of Sacramento's children. The students, along with area artists, are making bowls which will be sold at the Empty Bowls luncheon, which will be held on Tuesday, March 13th from 11-2PM at the Sacramento Masonic Temple, 1123 J Street. Attendees will make a donation of $25 and will be served soup (in one of the bowls) prepared by area restaurants - including Michelangelo's and Scott's Seafood.

Funds from the Empty Bowls event are used for food and emergency shelter services provided by River City Community Services (RCCS). Started in 1968 as a food closet, RCCS is a non-profit organization that provides nutritionally balanced food and emergency housing aid to anyone in need in Sacramento County. In 2006, RCCS provided food relief to over 24,000 people in nearly 12,000 households – 8,000 of whom were children. RCCS is the only Sacramento food outreach program that provides nutritional counseling in addition to food supplies.

A limited number of tickets to Empty Bowls will be available at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased online at or at four Sacramento retail locations: the Avid Reader, 1003 L Street; the Trinity Cathedral Bookshop, located at 26th and Capitol; and the TravelStore, located at 855 Howe Avenue, Suite 5, and at 7456 Foothills Blvd.

For more information, contact Eileen Thomas via telephone at 916-446-2627 x3001 or via email at rccsa@sbcglobal.net.

What a great community event for a great cause.

Gillian Parrillo
The Sacramento Executive