Precision Tools Service Inc. has made the recent Empty Bowls’ pantry fundraiser comeback event even more successful than its previous reported net of $17,000.
The firm located on Norcross Drive in Columbus has donated $5,400 to the cause — $1,000 at the time of the event, followed by a recent check of $4,400.
Diana Stephens, senior human resources general affairs officer for the firm, confirmed the latest donation.
“We had a lot of employees volunteer there (this year and last), Stephens said.
That brings the total to $21,400, making it one of the most successful fundraisers in the event’s 22-year history.
Precision Tools Service Inc. is a high-tech distributor of automation products and application solutions, according to its website. A Precision Tools Service Inc. employee, Lisa Elkins, serves on the Empty Bowls board.
Organizers said they are grateful for such support, both in volunteers and in finances.
Last fall, longstanding organizers who had given years of their time to the effort announced they needed to pursue other projects and had no one to pass the project to. So in October, they said the Feb. 1 Empty Bowls would have to be canceled.
Within a week of that announcement, new organizers teamed with some previous volunteers and announced that the event would go on.
The gathering at the Central Middle School cafeteria ended up with the support of about a dozen local churches while benefiting six local food pantries and shelters, which is one more than before: Horizon House, Thrive Alliance, Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, The Salvation Army, Community Center of Hope food pantry and the Love Chapel food pantry and Brighter Days emergency shelter.
Through the years, Empty Bowls has raised more than $200,000 total, according to organizers. Local artist Robert Pulley launched the event, a spinoff of a national push to fight hunger, via the Columbus Peace Fellowship. Some years, such as in 2011, more than 1,000 people have attended.
Five hundred people attended the latest gathering, which was one of the larger crowds of the past few years.
