According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), about 870 million people suffer from chronic hunger. That is one in every eight people, or about 13 percent of the world's population. Some people may think this is the result of a food shortage, but that's incorrect. In fact, the world produces enough food to feed everyone. The problem is that nutritious food is not always available where it is needed. Another reason so many people go hungry is economics. Many people simply cannot afford to buy the food they need. Charities and other organizations are needed to help people afford and have access to nutritious food. One of these organizations is the Empty Bowls Project. In November 1990, an art teacher named John Hartom wanted to raise money for a local food bank. He had an idea: host a soup lunch at his school and ask for donations from other teachers. To make the event unique, he would use ceramic bowls made by the students in his ceramics class to serve the soup. His students got excited about the project and produced all the bowls that would be needed for the luncheon. On the day of the lunch, after everyone had eaten, Hartom spoke to the group. He talked about the problem of hunger, pointing out that many people had empty bowls every day. He then invited the guests to keep their empty ceramic bowls to remind them of the hungry. "There was a moment of stunned silence," says Hartom, and he knew he had started something big. People were deeply moved by the symbolism of the empty bowl. The following year, Hartom expanded the idea into the Empty Bowls Project. He and his wife drew up a set of guidelines for others to follow. Organizers of similar luncheons are welcome to use the Empty Bowls name, and they are not required to pay Empty Bowls for this privilege. One hundred percent of the money collected at an Empty Bowls event is given to local food banks, soup kitchens, and shelters. Each sponsoring organization decides where to donate the money. What had started out as a one-time event soon spread throughout the United States and Canada. Over the years, Empty Bowls events have raised tens of millions of dollars to help feed the hungry. Next week, an Empty Bowls event will be held here in town. More than a dozen local artists donated bowls for the event. Why should you go? Because in the United States, one in six people suffer from hunger or food insecurity. Hungry children are more likely to get sick and do worse in school. If we want to keep this country great, then we need to keep this country full. Which sentence best describes the author's purpose in writing this essay?
