Empty Bowls announced today it will be returning to the Mission Bay neighborhood of San Francisco on April 28. In 2017, Empty Bowls raised $2.6 million for more than 10,000 meals through their annual fundraiser Soup Fest (and also gave away some soup). The event is expected to raise around $3-4 million this year with a combination of donations and ticket sales
Soup contributions are still needed by Empty Bowls.
ATASCADERO — ATASCADERO — ATASCADERO — El Camino Homeless Organization (ECHO) will present its 11th Annual Empty Bowls luncheon on Thursday, April 28. From 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., the event will be held at Atascadero Bible Church.
Over the years, the church has contributed venue space for Empty Bowls’ sit-down luncheon, and it is still the event’s home, even while it is in drive-thru mode during COVID.
“In the old days, we used to serve the soup.” The whole neighborhood gets together for a massive luncheon. With COVID on its way out and no idea what it’ll do in April, we’re going to have it be a place where folks can come, park on site, and pick out a handcrafted, artisan bowl, and then it’ll be a family-style to-go dinner with soup, sweets, and bread,” said Wendy Lewis, president and CEO of ECHO.
We’re going to get through this together, Atascadero
Lewis spoke to the Atascadero City Council about the event on April 8, indicating that they have an excess of bowls given for this year’s Empty Bowls but are still seeking for soup suppliers.
“We’re still seeking for eateries to contribute soup to the event in our region.” We have 12 soup suppliers lined up currently, and we need 18. So there’s a little bit of a chasm,” Lewis said.
Cristy Anderson and Pam Cavaliere, two local artists, are contributing their time and skill to ECHO by collecting and producing bowls for the occasion.
“Amazing artisans in the community have given the bowls. And we’ve got two artists in charge of it. And they’ve done such a great job collecting bowls that we have a lot more than we would normally have. So there will be a lot of lovely bowls to choose from,” Lewis remarked.
Anderson and Cavaliere have a combined pottery experience of over 64 years, and Empty Bowls is an opportunity for them to give back to the community.
“ECHO does a fantastic job assisting folks in our community who are in need of assistance and want to get back on their feet. Cavaliere remarked, “I adore the ceramic arts, and it’s a way for me to give back the gifts I’ve received.”
“Seven different painters created bowls, as well as Paso Roble High School (PRHS), Morro Bay High School (MBHS), and Cuesta High School (CUESTA).” “We’d still welcome bowls being donated to this year’s event,” Anderson said.
Tickets for this year’s Empty Bowls are already on sale, so get yours while they’re still available.
“I’m afraid we’re going to sell out.” People who have gone to the traditional sit down want to continue to support it, and we’re hoping to have that huge, gigantic community event next year. “Have everyone get together over soup and think about how they can assist the homeless people and ECHO offer the services that we provide,” Lewis continued. “We’d want to express our gratitude to the community for their continued support and support for Empty Bowls.”
Empty Bowls has a number of local sponsors who are helping the event meet its goal, but ECHO is currently on the lookout for more.
Howards Products is the events Founding Sponsor while Specialty Construction Inc is the Presenting Sponsor. Other sponsors include State Farm-Courtney Morrow, American Riviera Bank, Gerber’s Automotive, Idler’s Home, Solarponics, Steve Schmidt Topsoil, Atascadero 76, The Sandwich Truck, Bank of America, Tenet Health, Whitmer-Don & Elaine, Andres Engineering Corp, CenCal Health, BHE Renewables, Mechanics Bank, North County Recycling, KSBY, Dimes Media, Charles Bourbeau, and Monica Financial and Tax.
Email ECHO at echoshelter.org or call (805)462-3663 to volunteer, sponsor, give soup, or buy tickets for Empty Bowls.
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