Empty bowls a good fundraiser for hungry
Published Friday, April 18, 2008
Photo by Zak Holtan
Diane Huso looks on as Rachel Ronnevik tries to pick out a bowl for the empty bowl fundraiser for the Salvation Army.
Shelves lined with beautiful bowls of all shapes, sizes, colors and patterns sat near the entrance of the Empty Bowl fundraiser at Minnesota State Community and Technical College’s Legacy Hall in Fergus Falls Thursday. The bowls, which were taken home by attendees, will serve as a reminder of the event, long after the soup is gone.
MSCTC student Erin Easton put a lot of thought into her choice.
“I was excited about the pottery,” she said. “My room is blue, so I thought this would match.”
Student Erin Suiter, took a different approach when choosing her bowl.
“It was big and I wanted a lot of soup.”
The event, which has become a national trend, gives local artists a chance to give back to their community. In exchange for a small donation to help fight hunger, attendees are fed soup and bread out of a hand-made bowl, which they select and take home to use as their own.
“It’s a good fundraiser,” said local resident, Netty Simdorn.
Her friend, Cindy Albertson, agreed.
“The bowls are just a bonus.”
Proceeds from the event went directly to the Fergus Falls Salvation Army’s feeding center. Last year, the program raised about $3,000. Which, according to Captain Mike Parker, makes up a very important part of the program’s funds.
“It certainly has a significant impact for our feeding program,” he said.
The feeding program feeds, on average, 45 community members a day.
The program is designed to help people out, especially during times when it may be difficult to make ends meet.
The need now is greater than ever. Last year, the program helped 38.8 percent more people than it had the year before. Parker said that without Empty Bowl, the program could be in trouble.
“It could potentially limit the number of people we serve. We do have a general fund if one area is doing better than another area, but it certainly has a significant impact for our feeding program.”
Students of MSCTC were largely to thank for this year’s success.
The MSCTC-Moorhead culinary department provided the food, the Fergus Falls ceramics department crafted the dishes and members of the music department serenaded the crowd with their guitars.
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