(Letter to the Editor - Graphic Illustration/MetroCreativeConnection)

On April 15, the 23rd annual Empty Bowls fundraising luncheon raised more than $6,500 for area food pantries to help alleviate food insecurities in the Mid-Ohio Valley. The Empty Bowls Committee would like to thank all those who made this year’s event a success.

A great number of people and area businesses contributed to making this event successful. The committee would specifically like to thank all the restaurants in the area that donated soup to the cause as well as Panera Bread that donated all the bread. The restaurants include Boathouse BBQ, The Butchery of Marietta, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, DaVinci’s, Galley, Glenwood, House of Wines, Huck’s Farm Market, Jeremiah’s Coffee House, Lafayette Hotel, Marietta College, Marietta Wine Cellars, Moose Lodge #1823, Neader’s Diner, Riviera at the Valley Gem, Spagna’s/Harmar Tavern, Subway Frontier Center, Tiber Way Grill, TLV, Tonya’s Country Kitchen, and the Townhouse.

Additional contributions include handcrafted bowls that were given to each person with a ticket. The organizations contributing bowls include Parkersburg Art Center, Robin May of May Pottery, Henry Aglio, Marietta High School, and Parkersburg High School.

Volunteers from area churches, Marietta College football players, a Marietta College coach and a couple of McDonough Leadership program students at Marietta College contributed their time and energy to serving and working in the kitchen and dining room and ensuring a smooth operation. Marietta churches supplying volunteers included First Presbyterian (also the site for the event), Episcopal, Lutheran, Unitarian, First Congregational, and from Williamstown, United Methodist. All of these churches also supplied slow cookers and other equipment to make this event successful. In addition, volunteers from churches participating baked dozens of cookies for ticket holders.

There was also a silent auction during the event for which several people donated bowls symbolizing artistic, historic, vintage, colorful, and utilitarian creations. Our gratitude goes out to the donors and bidders.

This year’s event was the 20th live event, interrupted by two years of on-line (virtual) events. It was extremely successful and it is because of the people and organizations referenced above, that by their generosity, a tremendous sense of community was exhibited! The Empty Bowls Committee is so grateful for everyone’s support.

Orvie Fischer

Marietta