This year’s Empty Bowl fundraiser for the Homer Community Food Pantry was a sensational success! Local potters provided 175 beautiful artisan bowls and it was a sell out! We owe a huge THANK YOU to David Kaughman, Paul Dugan, Xochitl Harbison, Jenna Gerrety, Marie Herdgen, Annette Bellamy, Jeff Scalzi, Anna Iredale, Maygen Lotsher, Valissa Higman and the Homer High School. The Homer Council of the Arts provided the space for the potters and the Homer Rotary donated $300 toward purchasing the clay.

Local restaurants and individuals who provided their scrumptious soups and breads were Fat Olives, AJ’s Steak House, Wild Honey Bistro, Bear City Bread, Two Sisters, Red Bird Kitchen, Land’s End, The Bagel Shop, Boat Yard Cafe, Twisted Goat, The Coffee Smith, Alibi, Captain’s Coffee, La Baleen, Marc Coen, Chaz Meredith, Stan Rivera and Wendell Cummings.

The numerous delectable desserts were donated by many of the pantry board members and volunteers, Maria’Zumba Group, Set Free and many others who just wanted to support our cause.

This was our 8th Empty Bowl Fundraiser, which grossed $11, 295. As donations continued to come in it neared $12,000. Sherry Stead and Tracy Asselin organized the bowl and majority of soup donations along with dispersing numerous flyers throughout the community. Others that have made this their annual working contribution are Cinda Martin, Sherry Daugherty, Susan Pacillo and Bette Seaman. An additional 25 volunteers worked in the kitchen, participated in the initial set-up, served the soup, prepped and stocked the food items, cleaned the dishes, cleared the tables and contributed to the cleanup. One of our dishwasher’s said, “You know, there was a time when all I had was a couple of cans of ravioli that I got through the food pantry. That’s what got me through, that’s why I’m here.”

The beauty of this event is that it literally takes a community to come together to make this happen. Caroline Venuti and Pat Moreth have made it their personal job to greet people and collect the money and donations. Susan McLane and Patty Jay distributed the bowls and are already talking about how they can make it more efficient next year! People take ownership and pride in this event. People show up early to purchase the perfect piece of pottery and then a beautiful thing takes place. Folks simply sit down and enjoy each others company as they fill their bellies, with no cellphones in sight. The sense of community is so apparent and really heartwarming.

It was truly a souper-bowl success! The Homer Community Food Pantry is so grateful to all of YOU so that none may go hungry.

Deb Schmidt serves on the board of directors for the Homer Community Food Pantry.