Hundreds Line Up for Empty Bowl Fundraiser
 Volunteers serve up more than 30 soups during the Empty Bowl Dinner at First Congregational Church in Williamstown on Friday night. |
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Area residents and students filed into First Congregational Church on Friday night to fill more than 300 empty bowls.
The 11th biennial event was held to raise awareness of hunger issues and support the Berkshire Food Project, which provides free lunches at the Congregational Church in North Adams.
Empty Bowl dinners are done throughout the country, but Williamstown started doing its 22 years ago.
"It has just blossomed and grown over the last however many years and people really do cherish their bowls," Valerie Schwarz, executive director of the Berkshire Food Project, said.
Local artists donate handcrafted bowls and local chefs and restaurants donate different kinds of breads and soups.
Patrons were able to purchase the bowls for $30 and try as many of the near 30 different soups as they wanted.
"People come in for a simple meal of soup and bread, they pick out a bowl, and they can try as many different kinds of soups as they like," Schwarz said. "People take their bowl home and it's a constant reminder that not everybody's bowl is always filled."
Schwarz said its takes near six months to organize the event and a lot of work goes into it. She explained that it takes a long time to organize and for the potters to construct their bowls.
"It is an expense for the potters," she said. "They donate these bowls, and I know that it costs them quite a bit of money in supplies and manpower."
Artists donated 325 bowls this year.
The Rev. Jill Graham, pastor at the Congregational Church in Sheffield, has been involved in the Empty Bowl Project for many years.
"I think it is fabulous," Graham said. "I have probably 10 of them, and I use them all the time."
Schwarz said the event also is designed to make people aware of hunger in the world and in the community.
"It's just a simple meal, and we want to let folks know that, even in our own community, there are people who don't always know where their next meal is going to come from," Schwarz said.
Williams College freshman Wendy Wiberg said she intrigued by the dinner.
"I was very excited about it from the beginning, and I was very thrilled about the concept," Wiberg said. "It's living up to my expectations, and I am very happy to be here."
Wiberg shared her enthusiasm about the handcrafted bowls.
"I love the bowls," she said. "I actually got here really early so I could pick the one I wanted out."
Williams senior Joe Lafrate thought Empty Bowl was a great way to get college students more involved in the community.
"I have been impressed by the number of students here, and I feel like it is a really easy way for all of us to help the community," he said. "As Williams students, we get so tied up in all the things we are doing and for those of us who want to help out it's difficult sometimes."
Tags: food, fundraiser, hunger,
