Thermal Belt Outreach Ministry’s fourth annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser will be held Saturday, Oct. 6, at The Barn at Parker-Binns Vineyard. 

Empty Bowls is a simple meal of soup and bread. All guests receive a handcrafted bowl to keep as a reminder of all the empty bowls at meal time in Polk County and around the world.

This Empty Bowls event will raise money to stock Outreach’s food pantry and raise awareness to the plight of local residents struggling with hunger.  

On the porch at The Barn, guests may enjoy music, while they sample soups prepared by six local restaurants. Fresh artisan bread will be provided, and wines will be for sale, along with beer. Iced tea and water will be provided.

There will also be a silent art auction, featuring handcrafted pottery made by local professionals. 

The local Empty Bowls event is a collaborative effort between Outreach, business and restaurant partners, and members of the local art community. Outreach partners with professional potter Ann Gleason, who has organized all aspects of creating the handcrafted bowls each guest will receive. 

In addition to Gleason, professional potters Jim Cornell, Jim Cullen, Doug Dacey, Tyson Graham and David Voorhees created handcrafted bowls to be given away to each ticket holder. Tryon Arts & Crafts School donated their pottery studio for the community Make-a-Bowl event in July, several professional potters bowl throwing days as well as its kiln for the initial bowl firing. Designer  Pam McCarthy has donated her expertise to decorate the venue and create a fall, festive atmosphere.

Each ticket sold will provide a family with more than one week’s worth of food, and supports Outreach’s mission to provide assistance to Polk County residents who do not have the resources to provide for their basic needs. 

To learn more about this year’s Empty Bowls event, people may visit tboutreach.org/empty-bowls.html or may call 828-894-2988.

– Submitted by Margot Carter