Empty Bowls, a fundraiser for local food banks, was hosted at Loyalist College on March 26th. Strong community support resulted in close to $3,000 being raised for the Quinte Regional Food Share Shelter (QRFSS), a collective of the local food banks. Guests purchased bowls donated by local potters, then filled them with delicious soups prepared by Loyalist’s Chef Drew Ferguson and Dinkel’s restaurant.
“This successful event would not have happened if not for the shared dream of Sharon Campbell, a former Program Development Officer with Loyalist’s School of Continuing Education, and Gleaners Board Member, Lionel Enright,” said Susanne Quinlan, Director of Operations at the Gleaners Food Bank. “Lionel had attended Empty Bowls events in other locations. Sharon had heard of the success in other communities and met with me in the spring of 2009 to discuss the possibility of hosting one in the Quinte region. In the summer of 2010 the Loyalist College Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) team approached us and asked if they could help promote any of our upcoming initiatives. It was this sequence of events that led to Belleville’s Empty Bowls. SIFE members helped on the day of the event, in addition to student volunteers from the Business Sales and Marketing, Culinary and Social Service Worker programs.”
Lise Rouleau is a third-year Business student and member of SIFE. “It’s wonderful to see that people care about their community and feel it is important to help each other. One of our SIFE projects is Let’s Can Hunger, an international Campbell’s Soup Challenge. This initiative aligns perfectly with that and we’re proud to be a part of it.”
Dr. Ian Feltham enjoys a bowl of soup at the event.
One of the guests attending the event was Dr. Ian Feltham. “The soup was delicious and the generosity of the local potters in donating the bowls was a major contribution. I think that today will heighten people’s awareness of the need to work together to care for those in our communities. No one should be hungry.”
The day included a marketplace where local potters and craftspeople displayed their work for purchase. One of the potters, Jackie Harder from Stirling, felt Empty Bowls was a wonderful initiative and was pleased with the number of people attending. “There are people in our communities who are hungry. Perhaps this event will heighten their awareness of this and encourage them to find ways they can help change this. When I see the response here today I’m excited to think of the potential growth for Empty Bowls and the impact that it can have on our communities.”
Loyalist President Maureen Piercy and SIFE students at Empty Bowls event.
Media Contact: Marilyn Warren, Communications, Loyalist College (613) 969-1913, ext. 2332, e-mail: mwarren@loyalistc.on.ca