OUR Center’s 20th Annual Empty Bowls event is set to be held March 11 after three years of COVID-19 modifications and restrictions.
“This is the first year since 2019 that we’ve had our traditional — or normal — event where we serve lunch and people can just sit down and enjoy food together, and enjoy the fellowship,” said Elaine Klotz, development director for the OUR Center. “We’re excited.”
For nearly two decades, the event has raised more than $500,000 to feed people in need throughout the Longmont area, she said.
The fundraiser features bowls painted by community members at Crackpots Studio, and a silent auction. Attendees can choose their favorite bowl and fill it with soups from restaurants and caterers.
Tickets are $25 in advance, or $30 at the door, if available. A silent auction preview of roughly 100 featured bowls will be held at the event, and attendees can then bid online after the fundraiser to ensure maximum participation, Klotz said. All proceeds will go to OUR Center’s meal program and grocery market.
“The meals consist of free breakfast weekdays … and then lunch is served seven days a week, 365 days a year,” Klotz said. “We are serving about 150 meals every day, and then we average like 70 to 80 families every day that come and get groceries.”
The event is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Trail Ridge Middle School, 1000 Button Rock Dr., on March 11. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.
“For 15 years we were able to hold the event at Longmont High School, which was wonderful, but that’s no longer available to us,” Klotz said. “Trail Ridge Middle School in Longmont will be a very nice facility as well.”
Until the pandemic hit, the annual Empty Bowls events were selling up to 800 tickets each year. The 2022 event was held later in the spring and only sold 400 tickets, Klotz said.
“I think we’ll probably be back up to normal this year, just because this time of year is great for people still being in the area — not on vacation — and it’s soup weather, and just being excited to be back to our traditional format,” she said.
Food donors include A Spice of Life Catering, Flavor of India, Tortugas, Niwot Tavern, Chick-fil-A, Greens Point Catering, Royal Crest Dairy, Longmont Dairy, Cheese Importers and OUR Center’s chef. More donors are expected to join in the coming weeks, Klotz said. The event will offer 20 varieties of soup.
Community members can paint bowls at Crackpots through Feb. 26 to contribute to the event, and schools are encouraged to donate bowls from their ceramics art classes.
Over the past two decades, community members have purchased more than 13,000 tickets for the annual gathering and donated over 15,000 bowls, Klotz said.
“We’re just glad to welcome people back, and our food needs are growing, so it’s really important to have people come out and support us,” she said.
