Empty Bowls

As it turns out, we did lose power during the Public Safety Power Shutdown last week. It was out for 48 hours, which was inconvenient, but not that bad. We had to make some changes to our routines, but it was well worth it to prevent wildfire outbreak. The PSPS allowed us to see where we can improve in our own emergency preparedness. It also helped me appreciate all the conveniences we have that we take for granted.

Anyway, I'm back and wanted to share a really neat event we attended this weekend. It's called Empty Bowls and it's a fundraiser for our local Food Bank.

Ceramic artists, as well as students from the community college and high schools, donate gorgeous, one-of-a-kind bowls to the event. As attendees arrive, they select their favorite bowl. The bowl becomes theirs to keep, as a reminder of the problem of hunger and the many empty bowls in our community. 

  

It was SO hard to choose our bowls! There were so many beautiful choices. I found a sage green one that I aodored right as Trevor fell in love with a blue bowl. 

Steve pointed out that I'd chosen the 'wrong' bowl because I hadn't stuck with our family colors. He was totally right, and as soon as he said that, I wanted a red bowl instead of the green one I'd picked. Steve happily took the green and I picked out a red.

We set them down at a table and went to check out the silent auction and raffle prizes.

The raffle and auction are organized by 4-H members and staffed by high schoolers. 

All the prizes had something to do with food or bowls. 

At the silent auction table, we ran into one of our all-time favorite people, Trevor's first grade teacher. She's a 4-H Mom and has been volunteering with Empty Bowls for years. 

Soon, it was time to eat. We each brought our bowls to the serving table, where we had a choice of three different soups: Tomato Vegetable, Creamy Potato with Bacon, and 15-Bean. The soups were made by soup kitchens served by the Food Bank and are the same hot meals that people in need receive. 

It was really hard to choose one soup because they all looked and smelled fantastic! I had the Creamy Potato (YUM!). Between the three of us, we tried all the flavors and they were all delicious. Along with soup, we got bread and lemonade or ice tea. 

Next, we heard presentations about the Food Bank's mission, as well as stories of the people they serve.

4-H members acted as MCs for the event and did an outstanding job. I'd expect nothing less from 4-Hers!

The evening ended with cookies and a tour of the Food Bank facility. We've volunteered at the Food Bank often enough that we could give the tour, so we skipped it. About half of the people attending Empty Bowls had never been to the Food Bank before and they appreciated the chance to see everything and learn more about how this organization manages to distribute 25 million pound of food to people in need each year.

They also got to see where this commercial was filmed:

It looks like a familiar warehouse store, but it's not! This was filmed at the Food Bank in Fairfield, in the same building where we enjoyed Empty Bowls.

Despite being so involved with the Food Bank for so long, this was our first Empty Bowls. But it won't be our last! All three of us loved it and will definitely go back.