Although there is a lot of work involved in setting up and cleaning up for the Empty Bowls fundraiser, the volunteers who do pitch in tend to be a happy, hard working lot like the three ladies who helped at the 2017 event. Photos courtesy of Ada Igoe
At some time in each month, one in 10 Cook County residents struggles to put food on their table. Most are working people, people down on their luck, or individuals who suffer from some form of disability who can’t make ends meet. To help fill those bare cupboards, Empty Bowls was brought to Cook County in 2006.
This year’s Empty Bowls fundraiser will be held Thursday, November 15 at St. John’s Catholic Church in Grand Marais; the event highlights the pervasiveness of hunger in Cook County while actively working to solve this community problem.
To help with this effort, approximately 75 volunteers are needed to assist with setting up, serving, and various other tasks, said Pat Campanaro. If interested in volunteering, contact Pat at pcampanaro@gmail.com.
“This is a fundraiser to fight Hunger in Cook County,” said Campanaro. Our goal is to raise $30,000. This money is then given to nonprofit groups and all three schools to help with food needs.”
Last year the Cook County Food Shelf was given $10,000 from Empty Bowls proceeds.
Campanaro said this year the school(s) Snacks in Packs program needs over $9,000 to provide weekend food for kids.
Other programs helped by past grants from the Empty Bowls fundraiser are the Cook County Foundation WE Connect, Cook County Youth Agency, Cook County Public Health and Human Services (Good Samaritan Fund), local schools, Cook County Council on Aging, SNAP, and Cooperation Station Day Care.
In addition to needing volunteers, sponsors are also being sought. To become a level one sponsor, a donation of $1,000 is needed. A level two sponsorship costs $500. Contact Ada Igoe at av.igoe@ Gmail.com if you would like to be a level one or two sponsor.
Table sponsorships at $250 are also being sought. If you are interested in sponsoring a table, contact Beth Kennedy at bkennedy@boreal.org or send a check to P.O. Box 63, Grand Marais, Minnesota, 55604. Restaurant owners that would like to donate soup should also contact Beth Kennedy.
This year Ruby’s Pantry and North House Folk School will donate bread and Beth’s Fudge and Gifts will donate butter and coffee.
The Grand Marais Art Colony also needs help making and glazing bowls. This is a fun activity and a great way to meet people in the community. If interested, contact Natalie Sobanja at the Grand Marais Art Colony.
Empty Bowls 2018 features a simple soup dinner with soup and bread provided by local restaurants and a beautiful array of handcrafted bowls made at the Grand Marais Art Colony Make-A-Bowls sessions by community members and potters.
Empty Bowls is coordinated by community volunteers in collaboration with the Grand Marais Art Colony, KIDS Plus, and the generous donations of local businesses, Food Shelf, Birch Grove Foundation WE Connect, Cook County Youth Agency, Cook County Public Health and Human Services, local schools, Snacks in Packs, Cook County Council on Aging, SNAP, and Cooperation Station Day Care to help nourish those in need.
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