By JOHN KLINE
The phrase “soup for the soul” took on a whole new meaning Saturday with the kickoff of the ninth annual Empty Bowl Project Fundraiser at the Mill Race Farmer’s Market in Goshen.
Hosted by the Clay Artists Guild, the event got its start in 2002 as a way to both showcase the guild’s many talented artists while also drawing on the generosity of the community to help combat hunger in Elkhart County.
“For the last nine years what we’ve done is an empty bowl soup benefit where guild members make bowls and community potters donate bowls, and we throw a big soup benefit,” said guild member Jessica Koscher. “Essentially what you do is you come, pay your $15 donation, you get to pick out a bowl to keep and fill it with soup, and it all goes to charity.”
Beverages and bread were also provided during the event in addition to the soup, all of which was provided by local restaurants and guild members.
“I’d say we have about 800 bowls available this year, because we knew that’s what we had last year, and it cleared out our cupboards,” Koscher said, noting that the popularity of the event often sees patrons lined up in the hundreds waiting for the chance to pick out their bowls. “I mean last year there was one cookie left, and two pieces of bread, and no soup, so we were happy about that.”
And if the lines at Saturday’s event were any indication, this year’s crowd may very well have been the largest in the guild’s history.
“We were supposed to open at 5 p.m., but at 4:40 p.m. we were out the door, and by 5 p.m. we were down the block,” Koscher said. “Last year was our biggest year with over 800 bowls sold, so I’m not sure how we’re setting right now, but it’s looking pretty good.”
By 6:15 p.m., more than 500 bowls had already been sold, leading guild member Kathy Mow to believe that last year’s record may be on its way out.
“We’ve got a great crowd,” Mow said while manning the cash register at Saturday’s event. “It’s a constant flow, and everything seems to be moving great.”
As with past years, this year’s charity recipient is the Goshen Interfaith Hospitality Network, which helps feed and house local homeless families.
“They’re supported by several churches in the area, and then our donations help pay for food, and keeping them warm with blankets and pillows and things like that,” Mow said. “Last year we were able to donate around $11,450.”
This year’s event was the first as a potter for guild member Bruce Bishop.
“I’ve participated before, but only as a worker. This was my first time as a potter,” Bishop said, adding that he provided more than 50 bowls for Saturday’s event. “It’s always a real jazz to see all the people come out for the event. I think it looks like a record crowd like last year. I’m hoping we don’t have any bowls left by the end of the night.”
Bishop said he’s always impressed by the number of local artists who help contribute to the event.
“Most of the bowls come from the guild,” he said, “but we also get donations from places like local high schools, and individual artists in the community. It’s really great.”
As a first-time attendee of the event, Bristol’s Jody Barber was particularly impressed with the evening’s large turnout.
“I saw this advertised in the Goshen Interfaith Hospitality newsletter, and I thought it looked like a lot of fun,” Barber said. “The turnout is just amazing. We stood in line for about an hour until we got to the door, but I think it was definitely worth it.”
Phyllis Hostetler of Elkhart agreed.
“Oh it’s definitely worth the long wait,” Hostetler said. “I heard a couple people comment that it’s good to have to stand in line for a while sometimes, and I agree, because it makes you really think about what some of these other less fortunate people have to do to get food themselves.”
