A wellbearded Tim Kennedy was one of about 60 volunteers who took part in making sure the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser went off without a hitch. The annual event draws hundreds of people from throughout the county who enjoy sitting down to a meal with their friends and neighbors who they don’t always see. Staff photo/ Brian Larsen
St John’s Catholic Church was one busy place last Thursday, Nov. 15 as more than 400 people came to eat a simple but delicious lunch or supper of donated soups, loaves of bread and desserts as part of the annual Empty Bowls fundraiser held to fight community hunger.
When the evening was done almost $27,000 had been raised, a new record, reported the Empty Bowls organizing committee.
One of the primary ways to make money for the event was through three categories of sponsorships: Event ($1,000), table ($500), and businesses ($250) sponsorships, which were high this year.
Once collected, 50 percent of the donations are given to the Cook County Food Shelf while the remaining 50 percent is divided among other organizations which include Birch Grove Foundation, WE Connect, Cook County Youth Agency, Cook County Public Health and Human Services, Snack Packs, Cook County Council on Aging, SNAP, local schools, and Cooperation Station Day Care.
Serving on the Empty Bowls Organizing Committee are Pat Campanaro, Ada Igoe, Beth Kennedy, and Maren Webb.
Partnering with the Empty Bowls is the Grand Marais Art Colony and St. John’s Catholic Church.
With 12 percent of county residents struggling with food insecurity, the Empty Bowls fundraiser is more important than ever.
If you would like to donate to stop hunger in the county, make a check out to KIDS Plus (the fiscal agent of Empty Bowls) at P.O. Box 63, Grand Marais, MN 55604.
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