Apr 7, 2016 By Shon Meade managing Editor 4 min read

When it comes to picking a college, some students factor in the size of their institution as well as the majors that it has to offer. For Sydney Green, however, something else stuck out when she finally committed to Waynesburg University- a newspaper clipping from the Herald Standard that mentioned an Empty Bowls event in Waynesburg. Green said that newspaper clipping is why she decided to attend Waynesburg University.

Looking back to the reason Green decided to attend Waynesburg, the newspaper clipping that stuck out to her, she knew the event was something that her Aunt Carol, who is now suffering through stage-four lung cancer, would love. After learning more about Waynesburg and what the school had to offer, she fully committed herself to the school.

As the university continues on with its tradition of serving others, the Bonner Scholars hosted the 3rd annual Empty Bowls event in Greene County.

Empty Bowls is a national effort to end hunger-In Greene County, Empty Bowls focuses more on feeding children in the surrounding communities. More than 20 Bonner Scholars endured the sudden blast of cold weather Sunday, April 3, to finally accomplish the event they have spent the last six months preparing for.

Among the volunteers were the approximate 200 attendees. All of the proceeds that were collected will benefit the Greene County Weekend Food Program. Supporters could purchase soup and bread to eat, and a handmade ceramic bowl was also included for the individuals to take home to remember the event.

Green, a sophomore nursing major and Bonner Scholar, was the face of the event this year, and oversaw it from start to finish. This was not Green’s first year participating in Empty Bowls, however. Last year she helped out as the art coordinator for the event, dealing with the silent auction and the bowls. This had helped her in improving the event. She approached her role as the leader this year by hoping to make the program better than what it has been in previous years.

According to greenefoodpartnership.org, last years Empty Bowls event raised $3,600 for the Weekend Food Program. That program helps feed more than 100 kids over the weekend with take home meals. Coming into it this year, Green added how people had doubts about how much larger this event could grow. 

“Last year we were told so many times ‘this event could be so big but you guys don’t want to do anything with it,'” said Green.

This was one of the things that helped drive her to make this event the best it could be.

Green said that the luncheon wouldn’t have been possible without the donations of both food and supplies. Hailing from Markleysburg, Pennsylvania, Green was able to reach out to local business around her home.

Kurt’s Restaurant donated two gallons of chicken noodle soup, with everything in that soup being homemade, right down to the noodles, said Green. Ohiopyle Café donated five gallons of soup, various desserts, rolls and also take out containers. Local chef Dan Wagner supported the event for the third year in a row by donating additional soups, such as ham and bean, French onion and broccoli cheddar.

There were a few changes implemented into this years event, one of which was the location. Empty Bowls moved from the Greene County Fair Grounds to the National Guard Readiness Center, which was a much better fit, said Green.

“It had a nice cafeteria style so people were served soup that way,” said Green.

A larger Chinese auction was also held, with items being donated from local businesses.

Through the entire fundraiser, shirt sales, silent auction and standard donations, the Bonner Scholars were able to raise approximately $6,000 for the Greene County Weekend Food Program.

“We definitely achieved that goal, and that makes me so very happy,” said Green.

Though Green is not leading the event next year, she still plans to lend a helping hand.

“Serving for me, it’s always made me feel good to see some body else smile, and I’ve seen a lot of that through my service,” she said.

That love for a smile that Green possesses is something that her Aunt Carol also carried. 

“This is totally an Aunt Carol event,” said Green. “The only reason I actually coordinated it this year and not letting it flop like it was going to was in memory of my Aunt Carol, keeping her memory alive. That’s why this event is so important.”