River City Food Bank’s 9th Annual Empty Bowls

In the Sacramento area, River City Food Bank’s Empty Bowls event is their largest annual fundraiser.  I had the pleasure to attend this evening’s dinner at the Sacramento Convention Center.  According to their press release, “this is the ninth year of Sacramento’s Empty Bowls event.  The original concept of a “simple soup lunch” – recreating the experience of a homeless person at a soup kitchen – has grown from 325 attendees to 1,250 last year.”

Many bowls were donated for the cause originating from local clubs, artists and schools –  about 1500!  There were so many varieties: ceramic, glass and wood. It was quite difficult to choose which one I wanted.  I ended up with an English Walnut bowl created by a member of the Nor-Cal Woodturners – it reminded me of the wood on an M1 Garand.  Leave it to me to have guns on the mind.  You might notice there are some open crevices in my bowl.  I was under the impression you picked your bowl, then eat from it.  I’d like to think most folks thought my ignorance was rather funny, but I certainly made sure I clarified that tiny detail before I had a wonderful volunteer wrap it up for me.

If you’re in the Sacramento area and have time to spare tomorrow, you can still join in on the cause for their lunch.  Two sessions are available: 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM, and 12:30 PM -1:30 PM.  It’s $30 for each ticket.

I had fun and will try to go next year.