Beautiful bowls in a variety of colors, shapes and sizes were created by area potters for the Empty Bowls Luncheon. (Photo: Emily Hilbert)
Food storage would benefit from “empty bowls”
Emily Hilbert
Cooperstown
On Saturday, April 20, an “Empty Bowl Luncheon” was held at Christ Church Parish Hall to benefit the Cooperstown Food Pantry. More than 200 people attended and were greeted with warm smiles and hot soup. After paying the suggested donation, we were escorted into a room and seated at a table filled with bowls as unique and interesting as the potters. There were tall bowls, low bowls, simple bowls and bowls with intricate glazes and designs. According to event organizer Kathy Chase, there were 10 potters who donated their time and talents for the luncheon, and Smithy Clay Studio donated the use of their space and kilns.
Reporter Emily Hilbert’s bowl of choice was made by Eileen Murphy. (Photo: Emily Hilbert)
Eileen Murphy, a local potter and one of the event’s contributors, was thrilled that attendees chose her bowls; one in particular had a blue glaze on the rim and a circular design around the circumference. When asked what the event means to her, Murphy said it makes her think about her skills as a potter and how those skills and the support of the community can translate into help for those who need it. She reminds us all that “we could easily be on the other side,” the importance of humility, and that “a small group of dedicated people can change the world.”
The potters weren’t the only ones there to make a difference. One attendee, Dawn Harmer, was there to thank the Cooperstown Food Pantry for their generous support and donations to Bassett Cancer Treatment Center. Harmer said CFP Executive Director Will Kleffner has always made the treatment center a priority, bringing food for the patients.
After finding the perfect bowl, the crowd filed out of the room and into the main dining area, where two volunteers rinsed and dried each bowl to ensure cleanliness before going in. Once inside, the line made its way to a long table where five different slow cookers were holding soups in heat.
The soups change as the pots run out, but options at the start of the event included Thai green curry with mushrooms from Origins Cafe, Keith Addington’s Shaker Chicken Noodle Soup, Kitty Brennan’s Red Lentil Soup, Vegetarian Chili from Doubleday Cafe, and Tomato Bisque from Upstate Bar & Grill. At the end of the soup line, a selection of breads and spoons were available. Now it was time to find a seat.
Bowl in hand, I joined the soup line. (Photo: Emily Hilbert)
The room was set up “family style” with a large circular table and many chairs around the room, with cups and a pitcher of water in the middle, and butter for the bread.
As the soup was replaced, people began to get up to eat more. There was a washing station at the end of the room, near the exit sign, where people could leave with a clean bowl when they were full, or come back for a refill.
When asked a few days later how the event went, Kleffner said that more people attended than expected and over $5,000 was raised, but all the credit should go to Kathy Chase for putting on such a great event. Kleffner said the food pantry is grateful for the support from the community, not just during the event but every day.
The Cooperstown Food Pantry is one of only six food pantries in all of Otsego County and the only one that is open six days a week. For more information about the food pantry and how to volunteer or help, visit www.cooperstownfoodpantry.org or contact Kleffner at (607) 547-8902.
Empty Bowls luncheon attendees ponder their options. (Photo by Emily Hilbert)
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