Leadership Hastings calls first Empty Bowls fundraiser a success

HASTINGS, Neb. — By filling up the community’s cups, a Hastings group is making sure young kids in need get filled up on the weekends.

The Leadership Hastings class hosted its first Empty Bowls luncheon at the YWCA on Tuesday. The event raised funds for Food4Thought, a local non-profit food assistance program that sends meals home with elementary students in need.

“Full bellies lead to success in the classroom," event co-chair Heiden Brei said. "That’s why we decided to — these are our future leaders, they need to have success in the classroom in order to be our future.”

Leadership Hastings has a new class every year and requires members to do a project benefitting charity. Heiden Brei says they tapped into the 26 class members’ different skill sets to pull off the event.

“If you knew a business, we were asking you to go ask them for a sponsorship or to sell them tickets," Brei said. "We definitely used everybody’s different time and talent to be able to give back and put this event together.”

Local restaurants brought 15 different soups for people to sample. The donations helped Leadership Hastings eliminate all costs of hosting the fundraiser.

“They feed the community seven days a week sometimes, so for them to donate their soup back to this to be able to feed kids in elementary school, raise the money… they just donated all of that,” Brei said.

Ceramic bowls created by students at Hastings High, Adams Central and Hastings College were available for a freewill donation.

“It’s kind of cool to see students donating their art to raise money for other students in need of food,” Brei said.

Empty Bowls raised more than $15,000 for Food4Thought.