Thursday, March 28, 2024

Upper Valley EMPTY BOWLS Outdoor Soup Supper a Success

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Over 200 people gathered on May 19 to enjoy an outdoor Soup Supper in support of Upper Valley Empty Bowls and the Community Cupboard food bank. The Soup Supper marked the return to the much-loved UV Empty Bowls event, which has been on hold for the past two years. Despite COVID uncertainty early in 2022, the UV Empty Bowls Committee decided to press on with a modified schedule for the festivities. While bowls were not available for community members to decorate this year, the online Artist Bowl Auction and community soup supper were able to happen in May instead of March.

The online Artist Bowl Auction featured 22 renowned local artists who decorated bowls and platters with an amazing array of designs and artwork. The bowls were on display at various businesses in Leavenworth during the auction and offered to bidders in an online auction May 9-18. Thanks to the generosity of bidders, the online auction was able to raise $7100 this year.

The community soup supper moved from the Festhalle to the outdoor venue of Osborn school grounds the evening of May 19. Family and friends filled tables and picnic blankets to enjoy a simple meal of soup donated by local restaurants and businesses, JJ Hills, O’Gradys, South, Wok About Grill, Sage Mountain, Visconti’s, Yodelin, Tumwater Bakery, Bosket Bread. The relaxed atmosphere buzzed with happy chatter and entertainment provided by Eric Link, Corbin Welter and the Village Voices Women’s Ensemble. The soup supper and raffle raised $4500 to be added to online auction proceeds, resulting in $11,600 raised to support the Community Cupboard food bank and UV Empty Bowls Art Grant. These are much-needed funds raised BY our community-FOR our community!

Community support through events like UV Empty Bowls is what enables Upper Valley MEND, through the Community Cupboard food bank, to continue providing food bank and emergency family assistance services to residents of the Upper Valley, helping to truly Meet Each Need with Dignity.

Thank you to all the volunteers, businesses and community members who supported UV Empty Bowls this unusual year. Skip Claeson, UV Empty Bowls Committee Chairman reflected on the successful event:  “It is proof that our community and especially the EB Committee has dug out of the rubble of COVID and emerged with energy and determination to serve each other.” Congratulations on 26 years of Upper Valley Empty Bowls celebrations and see you next year.


 

Upper Valley Empty Bowls, EMPTY BOWLS, Outdoor Soup Supper

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