The Columbia Pacific Food Bank is taking part in an international effort to fight hunger and food insecurity.
It’s called Empty Bowls, and the St. Helens-based food bank will hold an event 5-7 p.m. Friday, April 12, at McBride Elementary School.
The event will involve a dinner featuring soups and bread donated from area restaurants. Live music will be provided by the Decades Band.
“It’s a family-friendly dinner event, featuring local soups that have been donated from local restaurants,” Chrissy Marquardt, marketing and events manager for the food bank, said. “It’s a fund raiser to help to end hunger in Columbia County. This is an international event that various food organizations, pantries and food banks put on throughout the entire country, throughout the entire world, and this is our version of it here in Columbia County.”
Marquardt said, “Each guest will receive a keepsake bowl that is hand-crafted by local artist Pat Brame, who is famous throughout Columbia County, and I would say in Oregon, for his work. Each year, Pat handcrafts 300 new bowls for this event, and graciously donates them.”
Marquardt said the empty bowls you’ll see at the event are a reminder that people throughout the world are fighting hunger.
“This fund raiser is specifically geared towards helping to end hunger in the world,” she said. “This event directly supports the mission and vision of the Columbia Pacific Food Bank, which is to help to end hunger and fight food insecurity, specifically in Columbia County.”
Among the goodies to enjoy at the dinner will be chicken tortilla soup, provided by El Tapatio and offerings provided by Warren Country Inn. Soup and Company will be donating their award-winning clam chowder.
Tickets are $15, but Marquardt suggests you move quickly to purchase tickets. Visit cpfoodbank.org/empty-bowls-2024 for ticket information.
Only 300 tickets are available for purchase.
“We have already sold 70-plus tickets for the event,” she said. “You want to get on that right away.”
Empty Bowls events have been held worldwide and millions of dollars have been raised to battle hunger.
