MORGANTOWN — Age doesn’t matter when it comes to fighting hunger.
Members of Brookhaven Elementary School’s Mountaineer Boys and Girls Club and residents of The Village at Heritage Point gathered in the school’s cafeteria on Friday to paint bowls for Empty Bowls Monongalia, a nonprofit that fights against food insecurity.
Heritage Point is a sponsor of the club and 2019 was the third year the two generations teamed up to paint the bowls, said Ann Zitney, director of sales and marketing at The Village at Heritage Point.
The kids were also given a magnate to paint and take home for the first time, Zitney said. The WOW! Factory provided the bowls for the event at cost, she said.
The event also provides a good opportunity to teach the kids who might not understand — especially the younger ones — what it’s like to go hungry, Linda Jackson, site supervisor for the boys and girls club, said.
“We talk about ways we can be of help to those who are less fortunate,” she said.
Zitney said a lot of the residents are passionate about volunteering and giving back to the community and Friday night’s event was a great and fun way they could do so.
Vonda Tharp, 81, a second-year volunteer, said she enjoys helping the kids realize why they are doing what they are — working for Hungry Bowls — and that it’s a fun time.
Evan McConnell, 10, was painting his bowl to look like an eyeball. He painted an iris and cornea onto the bottom of his bowl and had red veins running around the sides.
McConnell, attending for the third year, said he likes the event.
“Because it helps people,” he said.
The bowls will be used at Empty Bowls’ annual soup and bread luncheon at Mylan Park on Feb. 23, Zitney said.
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WDean@DominionPost.com
