Looking to beat the heat inside while giving back to the community? La Plaza Mall invites guests to let their artistic side run wild at the Paint Party benefitting the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley. On Saturday, July 9th from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. visitors can get their creative juices flowing while supplying the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley with bowls for their annual Empty Bowls fundraiser.

Empty Bowls is a grassroots movement by artists and craftspeople in cities and towns across the country to feed the hungry in their communities. The ceramic bowls painted at La Plaza will go on to be sold at future Empty Bowls fundraisers and will help to serve as a reminder that there are still many “empty bowls” in the community that need help being filled.

Throughout the event, attendees will enjoy refreshments, door prizes, and more! For more details, please visit the La Plaza website, or go by the mall at 2200 South 10th St.
Also, during the summer months, La Plaza will post QR codes on their digital board and digital directories where shoppers can donate to combat food insecurity and learn more about the Food Bank’s efforts in the Rio Grande Valley.

"Child hunger is a prevalent issue in the Rio Grande Valley, especially during the summer months when kids are out of school,” said Libby Vaughan, CEO of the Food Bank Rio Grande Valley. "We are so thankful to be partnering with the La Plaza Mall this summer, to provide an additional 500,000 meals to children facing food insecurity. Every dollar raised helps provide 5 nutritious meals to a child in need."

Nearly 22 million children in the United States count on school-provided meals every day. In the Rio Grande Valley alone, 1 in 4 children face food insecurity year-round. In rural areas, that number doubles. When summer comes, fewer than 1 in 6 children have access to summer food programs―leaving millions of children at risk of hunger until school is back in session.

“We are very proud to be joining the Food Bank of the Rio Grande Valley in their fight against food insecurity in our community,” said Isabel Rodriguez, Director of Marketing and Business Development at La Plaza. “We encourage our patrons to give what they can to help children in need remain healthy and well-nourished this summer.”

For more details or to make a donation, please see the QR codes on property, visit the La Plaza website, or call (956) 972-5454.