Bowled Over

SOUPER EVENT: I am behind in blogging, which seems to be the new normal, unfortunately. We have had a series of event requiring extra hours and attention, it seems. The latest: Helping host a fund raising banquet for a hundred plus guest.

I think this is the third year we've helped out with "Empty Bowls" at a local learning center. Our helping out involves making art, helping others make art, marketing the event, coming up with a soundtrack and a PowerPoint presentation, a few planning meetings, making three huge pots of soup, making about 5 dozen muffins, setting up the room, cleaning up afterward, making sure the $ raised gets to the right folks, and that leftover food goes to a homeless camp. Naturally, and thankfully, there are a number of others who pitch in to help.

We went with pops of bright colors on white. It looked very festive!

The fan folded napkins were inspired by ones we saw on our trip to Europe in September. We were in a restaurant  near Utah Beach in France where napkins were done up that way, and Annabelle figured out (and remembered!) how to do it when we got home. She taught other kids at school, and they folded up dozens of them!

During the event, there is a 'sale' of art bowls (which is really just donation based). This year there was also a donation based bake sale. Some students and their great choir director performed a few great songs, and we had 20-plus pots of soup for people to sample, as well as several kinds of bread.

We had four soup stations around the space. In the pink bowl above was one of our contributions, Berry Good Fruit Soup!

It was an amazing array of soups, with flavors from around the globe, and lots of vegan and vegetarian options.

We also took hearty lasagna soup (that always disappears lickety split!).

And CJ's Loaded Baked Potato soup, another crowd pleaser.

All in all, it was a fun afternoon, and we raised nearly $700 for Teen Feed, a local organization working "with the community to offer support to meet basic needs, build strong relationships, and ally with homeless youth as they meet their future off the streets. With the tremendous support of the community, Teen Feed responds to the most basic needs of homeless and at-risk youth in the following focus areas: healthy meals and lives, youth support coordination, street outreach, healthcare access, and engaging the community through service. Teen Feed responds to the most basic needs of homeless youth with three (3) integrated programs: Teen Feed Meal Program, Street Talk Outreach Program (STOP), Service Links for Youth (SLY). Youth Access to Care (YAC), formerly a separate program, has been integrated as a component into all existing programs." (Excerpt from their website.)

Soup left over after the event went to the people living in Tent City near the school. They were thrilled to have all that homemade soup, still warm from the pots!