WHAM Community Art Center in Surprise will soon sponsor a Celebrations of Hope event to help combat food insecurity in the Valley.

Since the pandemic has hit, the Phoenix-area food insecurity challenge has been amplified. St. Mary’s Food Banks report offering as many mobile pantries as they can but still running out of food before helping everyone in line.

Those who aren’t able to get food from the mobile pantries are not turned away; they are directed to the St. Mary’s location nearest them, either in Phoenix or Surprise. The food bank is determined to provide as much food as they can, but they are in a very difficult situation right now due to the pandemic.

WHAM Community Art Center, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit arts organization, wants to help. It invites the community to celebrate hope and the fight against hunger in the West Valley, at its fundraising event from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 5 at 16560 N. Dysart Road, Surprise.

“Celebrations of Hope” combines “Bowls of Hope” and “Harmonies of Hope” into a day of love, healing and hope as WHAM raises money for families suffering from food insecurity. Concurrently, there will be a teen chalk art contest on the property.

Bowls of Hope is a collaboration of WHAM and Sun City Grand potters. Together, they will hand-make hundreds of clay bowls to sell to the public. The proceeds will go to six West Valley charities, partnering with the Southwest Bowls of Hope in Goodyear and All Faith Food Bank.

WHAM is in its sixth year selling bowls at its gallery to support this cause. WHAM’s mission is to provide art for all, so this annual event aims to give back to the community and support those in need or hungry. Guests are invited to select a unique handmade bowl for $12 or $10 to help fill a bowl for someone whose “bowl is empty.”

This year’s Bowls of Hope will be enhanced with the sounds hope by the addition of a free outdoor concert, “Harmonies of Hope,” performed by SoSco Flute & Guitar Duo. At this casual, outdoor, safety-conscious concert, the community can rally together to bring hope and connect through music.

From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., guests can enjoy specially curated music that communicates a message of love, healing and hope. Guests will hear some of the most uplifting and timeless songs ever written as well as the fascinating stories behind their creation. Songs will include “Ave Maria,” “Amazing Grace,” “Here Comes the Sun,” “What a Wonderful World,” “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” and many more.

Join WHAM and help support this special event to fight the hunger battle in Arizona and give hope to some suffering from food insecurity. For information, call 623-584-8311 or visit this site.