Empty Bowls at $16K mark; donations still needed

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.”

Through the years, Empty Bowls has raised more than $230,000 total, according to organizers. Local sculptor Robert Pulley launched the event, a spin-off of a national push to fight hunger, via the Columbus Peace Fellowship. Some years, such as in 2011, more than 1,000 people have attended in person.

Empty Bowls’ foundation includes a variety of local artists, including some whose work is celebrated nationwide, and students making bowls of all shapes and sizes for the event. The bowls are then purchased by diners as part of the fundraising. Normally, the in-person gathering has included soups, chilis, breads, desserts and more are made by volunteers.

Past organizers probably would agree, considering that they have used added attractions such as live music to boost attendance.

This year, Sandy Allman, part of the organizing committee, provided statistics showing that 35 soup makers made 65 gallons of soup, and dessert makers made 450 desserts, compared with 55 gallons made last year, and 400 desserts.

Also, volunteers sold 120 handmade, souvenir artisan bowls compared to 105 in 2021. Plus, an online auction raised $2,280.

Allman called the event significant and successful.

“We feel that even if sales are down, we achieved our goal of continuing the fundraiser without any gap years during the pandemic,” she said.