Brenda Callahan-Johnson: You filled these empty bowls with love and donations so others could eat

Thank you to all who came out to support the Empty Bowl Fundraiser on Feb. 1, to support the Merced County Community Action Agency, which operates the D Street homeless shelter. We provide over 17,000 meals to the homeless annually. The beautifully painted bowls brought attention to the problem of homelessness and hunger in our community. One-hundred percent of the proceeds will be used to feed the homeless.

Thank you to the community members, organizations, students and volunteers who not only painted bowls but sponsored the event, sold tickets, worked the event, cooked, provided a venue and donated supplies. We were able to raise much needed funds to secure thousands of hot meals. None of this would be possible without the continued support of the community.

This story was originally published February 13, 2018 at 5:20 PM with the headline "Brenda Callahan-Johnson: You filled these empty bowls with love and donations so others could eat."