POST FALLS - Empty Bowls will help fill the Post Falls Food Bank shelves.

The Empty Bowls luncheon - a fundraiser for the food bank - will be held May 18, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jacklin Arts and Cultural Center, 405 William St.

Supporters will be able to take home a handcrafted ceramic bowl painted by local artisans, officials and volunteers.

There are 250 bowls made for the event, which raised more than $3,000 last year.

"People love it because they can come in, get a bowl, have a great lunch and leave," said Sherry Wallis, food bank executive director.

Empty Bowls is a nationwide initiative that promotes hunger awareness.

A small silent auction featuring art items will be held during the lunch.

Cost of the lunch is $15 per bowl. Lunch for children cost $5, but a bowl is not included at that price. Bowls will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Distinguished Young Women of Post Falls candidates will host the Empty Bowls event as part of their community service for the scholarship program. The scholarship program is 6 p.m., May 24, at Post Falls High School.

Area restaurants donate soup and rolls for Empty Bowls event. Hands To Art in Coeur d'Alene provides the workspace and materials for the bowls at cost.

Sherry Wallis, food bank executive director, said funds raised will be used as a pledge toward the nationwide Feinstein Challenge, which divides $1 million to all agencies participating in the challenge based on cash and food donations for the past two months.

Participating agencies receive a minimum of $250 and a maximum of $35,000 in the challenge.

"Leveraging Feinstein's money is an extra gift," Wallis said.

For more information about the fundraiser, call Tabitha Kraack at 659-4255.