Jaime Winton and Sarah Ranson launched the Memphis Empty Bowls Project in 2012 in an effort to bring together artists and craftspeople from all over Shelby County to work toward providing both hunger relief and healthy food to struggling families in the Mid-South. In its first year, the event raised over $22,000 that not only helped to eliminate empty bowls, but also to raise awareness around the issue of food insecurity in our city.

Memphis has been cited as both the hungriest and poorest city in our nation. The sponsorship of the artist community around this project supports vital programs that combat hunger. Our annual event provides a handcrafted soup bowl and a simple soup and bread meal donated by local area restaurants in exchange for each ticket. Please consider helping the Memphis Empty Bowls Project fight hunger, one bowl at a time!

In 2009, Jaime Winton launched the first and only diaper bank in Memphis, called Operation: Swaddling Clothes, as a ministry of the food pantry at St. John's United Methodist Church. OSC provides a 1-2 week supply of diapers to each MIFA-screened family of a child in diapers who visits the St. John's United Methodist Church food pantry.

For more information about Operation: Swaddling Clothes, click the link above, or visit this story in the United Methodist Reporter. Donations of diapers or funding is always appreciated to support this important work.