MIDDLEBURY — The 22nd annual Empty Bowl Dinner fundraiser will take place Saturday, Nov. 9, at the United Methodist Church in Middlebury. Doors open at 6 p.m. and dinner is served at 6:15.
The Empty Bowl Dinner benefits both HOPE and CVOEO, the two local food shelves that work hard to alleviate the problem of local hunger. With ever-increasing cuts to state and federal funds available to these important organizations, fundraising at the community level becomes more and more important.
Empty Bowl is a national effort to fight hunger at a local level started by a group of artists, potters and students in Michigan in 1991. Over the years the idea has grown as more communities expand on the idea and create their own special events. In Vermont the idea has been growing with Empty Bowl Dinners now happening annually in Burlington, Middlebury and Springfield.
The Middlebury event relies heavily on the support of local potters; the Middlebury Studio School; local bakeries, farms and orchards; United Methodist Church; and Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op members. Additionally, 45 volunteers help make the event possible by doing all the food prep, serving and clean up. Potters donate soup bowls; guests choose the bowl in which their soup is served. Salad, bread, beverages and desserts round out the meal. The bowl is a memento of the evening, reminding all in attendance that while their bowls are full, there are others in our communities in need of a nourishing meal.
The Empty Bowl Dinner on Nov. 9 will be serving 72 people a delicious and healthy meal in a beautiful handmade bowl. Tickets, $25 each, are on sale at Middlebury Natural Foods Co-op, for $25 each. All proceeds are donated to the two area food shelves.