COLUMBUS, Ind. — The recent 24th Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser total stands at slightly more than $16,000. But event volunteers are extending the time for donations at least through the end of March in an extra push to reach a goal of $20,000. Part of that push is due to an increased need locally among area food pantries that the event supports.
The six food pantries benefiting from the event are: Love Chapel, Horizon House homeless shelter, Community Center of Hope, Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, Columbus Salvation Army and Thrive Alliance.
Local officials have said for some time that the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with its resulting job losses and unplanned medical expenses for many, has triggered much of the increased need.
“So we’re definitely still open (for donations) and definitely would like to see more,” said Richard Boyce, one of the organizers of the event.
Figures for the event held as a drive-thru at Donner Center because of the pandemic show success over last year, despite the total: 350 cups of soup sold compared to 215 in 2021. But corporate donations are down compared to past year, according to Boyce, resulting in a lower current total.
“It’s just a sign of the times,” Boyce said. “Everyone has been hit in some way. That’s the hard part of all this.
“It’s not that people still don’t believe in the cause or anything else like that.
“But I do believe that you don’t get quite the same level of enthusiasm at a drive-thru event as you do at an in-person event.”
For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
