Empty Bowls event helps fight hunger

Hundreds of local residents formed lines at the Green Valley Presbyterian Church on Saturday for a bowl of soup and a slice of bread.

Donors and volunteers helped Empty Bowls coordinator Barb Hunt and Green Valley Assistance Services raise $6,500 to feed the hungry in surrounding communities and continue the agency’s work in providing monetary assistance to those in our area who require temporary or long-term support.

“We did it again!” Hunt exclaimed as she fielded questions from volunteers and greeted members of the community.

“I am so overwhelmed once more to see the generosity of people in this community, and it makes me realize when I see it how much good will folks here are bringing to others.”

Patrons donated canned goods for the Green Valley Community Food Bank and paid $10 each to sample soups from 10 local restaurateurs, symbolizing the familiar soup kitchens that are unfortunately still part of the American landscape, with the proceeds going to the GVAS Monetary Assistance and holiday food voucher programs.

GVAS gives help to hundreds of families each year, providing financial support, as well as advocacy, information, referral assistance, and visits and transportation for home bound, frail, and disabled.

Diane Bissell, Glenn Lundell, Roslyn Pellman, Susan and James Sidd, Chris and Mike Bartoletti and the Green Valley News sponsored the event that promotes the worldwide Empty Bowls motto of “fighting hunger…one day at a time.”

The concept was spawned in 1990 by a Michigan art teacher’s class project that encouraged students to create ceramic bowls for a fund-raising meal. The idea spread across the country and now Empty Bowls events like this one are organized all over the world.

This is the second that Hunt has organized as Project Manager for GVAS, with the help this year from committee members Carol Bates-Smith, Lynne Connolly, Kathy Babcock, Anita Burton, Connie Davis, and Carol Heller, and it appears that community organizations and businesses will continue to step up to make it a successful annual fundraiser.

Chefs from Coach’s, La Posada, La Placita, The Greens, Marti’s Bistro, Arizona Family Restaurant, Elks Lodge No. 2592, Trattoria Ragazzi, Grill on the Green, and Kristofer’s Catering and Deli prepared their signature soups, coordinated by Chef Charles from Krisofer’s, who pretty much ran the show from the kitchen in the kickoff last year.

Fry’s, Bashas’, and Safeway on Continental provided the bread, and artists from Clay Hands Gallery & Studio, Quail Creek Ceramics Club, GV Ceramic Club, Southern Arizona Clay Association, Corona Foothills Middle School, and individuals, instructors, and students from the GVR Clay Studio made colorful soup bowls for patrons to take home with them as a reminder of hungry families here with “empty bowls.”

Sondra Dexter and other community volunteers, along with members from Beth Shalom Temple Center, Green Valley Community Church, Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, and the Social Concern Ministry at Desert Hills Lutheran Church made the cookies for the finishing touch.

Cloud Dancer, The Old Book Shop, Santa Rita Artisans, and 18 individual artists donated raffle prizes, and the University of Arizona Extension handed out free plants along with tips on gardening and nutritional information.

Will Bennett of Bill’s Home Service sponsored a remote broadcast from KGVY for the duration of the event.

With too many people to thank, Hunt said simply, “This shows what a community can do, working together to help others.”

Mike Touzeau is a Green Valley freelance writer. Comment on this story online at www.gvnews.com.