<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/2/1612844855581.jpeg" alt="A bowl by&nbsp;Alexandria Medenciy. Photo courtesy SAC" />
 <figcaption>A bowl by&nbsp;Alexandria Medenciy. Photo courtesy SAC</figcaption>
 </figure>Twelve artists, 12 stories of food insecurity, and 12 empty bowls on display at the Salina Art Center draw attention to the fact that 13.6 percent of Saline County residents are food insecure.Bowls in the display will be part of an online auction with all proceeds going to the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank. Bowls that are available in the auction will be on display in the education wing as a part of 12 Empty Bowls Wednesday through Feb. 21. A link to the online auction can be found at&nbsp;<a href="http://www.salinaartcenter.org/12-empty-bowls">www.salinaartcenter.org/12-empty-bowls</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;Participate in Lunch and Learn with Karen Couch of the Salina Emergency Aid Food Bank at noon Wednesday via Zoom or Facebook Live. Couch will help kick off the art center's 12 Empty Bowls display in the education wing. She also will share what food insecurity means in Saline County. You can join Lunch and Learn by tuning into Facebook Live or registering for the event via Zoom. To register, go to <a href="http://www.salinaartcenter.org/12-empty-bowls">www.salinaartcenter.org/12-empty-bowls</a>. For the art center's Facebook page, go to <a href="http://facebook.com/SalinaArtCenter">facebook.com/SalinaArtCenter</a>.Additionally, visitors will be asked to contribute nonperishable food items to be donated to the food bank. The 12 stories are from people ranging in age from young adult to 73. Story topics include the following.COVID left him unemployed and without enough to feed and care for his family without food stamps and the Food Bank.Once homeless and addicted to drugs, having a reliable food source makes staying clean possible.Knowing that there are nice people willing to help makes a world of difference.There isn’t enough money working low-paying jobs to rise above all that life can throw at a person.Salina is fortunate to have resources for food assistance.A misdiagnosed injury left me with the choice between going to the Food Bank or not eating.Take the time to comfort others….it might be you someday.What are people supposed to do while they wait for benefits?Lack of health insurance leads to unemployment, loss of income and hunger.Battling illnesses on disability doesn’t leave much room for the sweeter things in life.Losing a loved one can throw you off course.A fixed income in retirement can’t always keep up with the prices at the store.To read the 12 stories, go to <a href="http://www.salinaartcenter.org/12-empty-bowls">www.salinaartcenter.org/12-empty-bowls</a>.The Salina Art Center, 242 South Santa Fe Avenue is open 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday. Guests are welcome to make an appointment outside of public hours if that would make them more comfortable.

'12 Empty Bowls' to highlight food insecurity in county