A unique fundraising event that will help people in underdeveloped nations is slated to take place in Muncy on November 16. The event will be an evening of tapas, provided by area restaurants and served on handmade plates. Each ticket holder will receive a handmade tapas plate and will be able to sample up to 3 food items. This event will be held at the First United Methodist Church in Muncy (602 S. Market Street Muncy, Pa.) The hours are 6-7:30 p.m. Tickets are $30 and are available for purchase at Centered Earth Clay Arts Studio & Gallery. (21 Kristi Road Muncy, PA 17756 – 570-666-3159).

“I’ve wanted to do a charity event for quite some time, and this seemed to be a perfect fit. Potters often choose to create functional pottery, and we’re lucky to have so many talented potters in our area,” Kathy Gorg, from Centered Earth Art Studio and Gallery, and one of the organizers of the fundraiser, told Webb Weekly. “Many of the potters that are involved in this event have started out as students of Centered Earth, and this is a wonderful opportunity for each of us to showcase what we do. We’re also fortunate to have many generous local businesses that are willing to work together to help those in need. We’re surrounded by great restaurants, and people who care about service to others, so we are combining forces for a really great cause.”

Gorg continued, “We believe that handmade items enhance not only the environment, but also the experience. When people use a handmade plate, we hope they realize that it was made with care and thought, and we hope it makes them feel special. The local restaurants that are involved in this event also prepare their meals with great care, and it shows up in the experience as well. We’re excited about what we believe will be a very special evening of celebrating handmade, while supporting a good cause.”

Paul Kinley, local project manager for GAiN (Global Aid Network) expressed his appreciation for the efforts made for this fundraiser.

“The generous support from the ‘Clay with our Hands’ fundraiser event will enable our ministry project ‘Experience Missions’ to host a Mini Mobile Seed Packing Event in partnership with GAiN,” Kinley said. “Mini Mobile Seed Packing Events introduce people area churches and organizations to the needs around the world and how they can help make a difference. Proceeds from Clay with our Hands may be used in full or in part to fund a Mini Mobile Seed Packing Event to engage our area youth at the YMCA, at one of the area colleges such as a Penn College, or a community event.”

According to the GAiN Mission Statement, GAiN offers a long-term food solution by giving communities seeds that can be harvested and used for planting subsequent crops. Gardens then become a continuous source of food production without outside assistance.

In addition to providing a variety of nutritious vegetables for feeding struggling families in a community, successful gardens generate an excess of produce that can be sold to fund community projects such as school repairs, student school fee supplements, and orphan care.