Photo by Shannon Malanoski Sondra Bolte places soup into a container for a drive-thru diner at the recent Empty Bowls fundraiser.
COLUMBUS, Ind. — Tickets are now available for the the 25th Annual Empty Bowls fundraiser scheduled from 5 to to 7 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Central Middle School cafeteria, 725 Seventh St. in Columbus.
Advance tickets for all-you-can-eat soup, bread and cookies are $15 and available at the event website at classy.org/event/empty-bowls/e442695.
Organizers announced in the fall that it would return to an in-person event after two years as a drive-thru fundraiser at Donner Center. They currently are seeking more volunteers to total about 50 workers.
They also are seeking donations to support the cause.
“We’re checking first with the people whom we have had in the past,” said Richard Boyce, among the organizers.
Lynne Hyatt and Judy Kiesow are event co-chairs. The fundraiser involves people buying volunteer-made soups, breads, desserts and more while listening to live entertainment and brief messages about the need to support struggling families locally.
This year, Mayor Jim Lienhoop, Jim Bickel, president and chief executive officer of Columbus Regional Health, and Jim Roberts, superintendent of Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp., are scheduled to be among soup servers dishing out selections made by people from their organizations or administration.
A eight-person volunteer organizing committee hopes to attract at least 500 people and generate at least $20,000 for six local pantries or shelters that help feed the hungry: Love Chapel, Turning Point Domestic Violence Services, the Salvation Army, the Community Center of Hope, Thrive Alliance and Horizon House.
Tickets priced at $30 are also available and include a guest’s choice of purchasing a ceramic bowl crafted by local artists, teachers, and students. Longtime local married musical duo Dan and Linda Mustard, known for everything from pop to jazz tunes, including originals and instrumentals, will provide the entertainment.
For more on this story, see Saturday’s Republic.
