Empty bowls are being filled in the community.
Hidden Treasures Studio in Gimli recently held its second Empty Bowls fundraiser on Sunday, March 16, to support the Winnipeg Beach Food Connection. At the event, attendees painted ceramic bowls while enjoying a delicious meal to raise funds for the local organization.
The Empty Bowls fundraiser began in 1990 when Michigan art teacher John Hartom organized the first event to benefit a local food drive. He had students create their own ceramic bowls and then invited school faculty to a soup lunch where they contributed to the cause. Since then, the fundraiser has grown into a global movement that Barb Fletcher of Hidden Treasures Studio is proud to be part of.
“It’s the whole concept of giving back to the community,” she said.
The inaugural Empty Bowls event was held last year at the pier in Gimli. This year’s event took place at the Winnipeg Beach Curling Club and raised $440 for the Winnipeg Beach Food Connection. Tickets for the fundraiser were $40 for larger bowls and $30 for smaller ones, which included a meal of soup and a bun to enjoy while painting. After the event, Fletcher took the bowls back to the studio to be fired, so attendees could pick them up later.
“The whole thought of an empty bowl is that it’s a reminder of even in our own backyards there is such a thing as food insecurity,” said Fletcher. “It does happen in our own backyard as much as we don’t think, and so the empty bowl is a reminder to all of us that yes, there is need in our community but also it’s a fun event for people to participate in.”
Lori Sul from Winnipeg Beach Food Connection shared that the event united the community to raise “much-needed” funds for the organization. She explained that all proceeds from Empty Bowls would go directly toward purchasing supplies to restock the shelves of Winnipeg Beach Food Connection, benefiting the community directly.
“Events like these where the community pulls together to make things happen are very important and show us all what can happen when people pull together,” said Sul. “I strongly feel that Hidden Treasures as well as Coralea’s are two businesses that show what true co-unity is all about. So much pride.”
This year, Coralea’s Kitchen provided the soup, and the curling club graciously donated the space for the event. Fletcher noted that everyone enjoyed the fundraiser, and Winnipeg Beach Food Connection aims to make it an annual tradition.
“It’s a great way to raise some extra funds for them and for them to be able to purchase the things they need most,” she said. “It’s a really awesome opportunity to pull the community together for an event but not only that, it’s an opportunity to give back.”
“The Winnipeg Beach Food Connection was started to offer our community a little help during these difficult times thar many of us find ourselves in,” said Sul. “With the prices of everything rising, families are left with little money to allocate towards food and nutrition. We are a community of people coming together to help one another.”
Fletcher is already planning the next Empty Bowls fundraiser, which she hopes to hold at the Lakeview Gimli Resort or again at the pier in town. This upcoming event will raise funds for Evergreen Basic Needs, and although the details are not yet confirmed, she mentioned it will happen soon.
“I am very much community-minded and always looking for opportunities to give back to the community, and this is such a win-win,” said Fletcher. “Pottery bowls go with what we do here in the studio, and everyone can use a bowl at home. And it’s an innovative fundraiser, it’s something different and new for people to do.”
For updates on the next Empty Bowls fundraiser, follow Hidden Treasures Studio on Facebook.
