Creativity and hearty soup blended tastefully to fight hunger in Southwest Florida. The Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida raised about $42,000 Saturday during the 6th annual Empty Bowls Naples.
Co-chairs, Betsy Dawson and Rochelle Moore would like to thank the Collier County community for embracing the event and Panera Bread as the title sponsor along with other corporate sponsors: Ace Hardware, Allegra Printing, Bond, Schoeneck and King, City of Naples, Laquana Clay, Master Piece Mixers, Publix, Taylor Rental/Party Plus Naples, Sweetbay, VITAS, and Whole Foods.
Potters, crafters, students and educators made 1,950 bowls, and almost 2,000 patrons began lining the sidewalks around Cambier Park at 7:15 Saturday morning – two hours before the event began.
Art students, teachers and professional artists crafted bowls that were bought by patrons and heaped with soups and chowders prepared by area restaurants.
Donna Torrence, Empty Bowls: Naples founder, throwing clay in a demonstration at Cambier Park.
The empty bowls serve as a reminder of those people who go hungry every day.
Donna Torrence, Empty Bowls: Naples founder, throwing clay in a demonstration at Cambier Park.
The empty bowls serve as a reminder of those people who go hungry every day.“Empty Bowls Naples was a huge success,” said Joyce Jacobs, the Harry Chapin Food Bank’s associate director.