Soup-er bowl of fundraisers

Glace Bank Food Bank hosting Empty Bowl event

The Glace Bay Food Bank is once again hoping empty bowls will help fill their shelves with food.

Kimberly McPherson, garden coordinator, said an Empty Bowl fundraiser is being held Oct. 20 at the Glace Bay fire hall with the money going to the food bank.

The first time they held the event last year it sold out.

“Most definitely we were surprised,” she said.

“We didn’t realize how great the demand would be.”

The $30 ticket provides people an opportunity to choice their own handmade pottery bowl and enjoy homemade soup, biscuits and desserts.

“There will be at least three different types of soup, including a vegetarian option,” McPherson said.

“You get to try all three types if you wish.”

The soups and desserts will be created by Shaun Zwarun, head chef at Kiju’s; Lukas Batschelet, owner of Bovem Longhorns from in Loch Lomond; and Nathan Susin, owner of Elementi Catering.

Each person gets to leave with their bowl, which McPherson said usually sell for $30-$45.

Potters from across the island are donating bowls including Kimberly McPherson, Elizabeth Burtt-Ivey, Demmarest Haney, Linda Wright and Hardy Kalberlah.

There will also be a silent auction during the event.

Only 100 tickets are being sold this year.

“We decided to hold it at the fire hall so we could accommodate everyone in one evening,” she said.

Burtt-Ivey donated about 30 bowls last year and is hoping to donate another 30 this year.

She was also pleasantly surprised by the popularity of the event, which raised $3,000 for the food bank.

“I was impressed by the quality of the bowls donated and the soups,” she said.

“The soups were all incredible — all healthy and made local.”

Burtt-Ivey said farmers are donating the chickens and vegetables for the soups and local businesses and artists across the island are donating toward the silent auction.

“Everything is donated so there are no costs at all. Everything raised goes to the food bank.”

Tickets are only being sold through Eventbrite website at www.eventbrite.ca/e/empty-bowls-tickets38508905172?aff=es2

Anyone with questions can call the food bank at 902-8490750.

SHARON MONTGOMERY-DUPE/CAPE BRETON POST Elizabeth Burtt-Ivey, left, a potter, and Kimberly McPherson, garden co-ordinator at the Glace Bay Food Bank and also a potter, show some of the bowls they made for the Empty Bowl fundraiser to be held at the Glace Bay fire hall on Oct. 20 to raise...