Columbia Gorge Food Bank Hosts Benefit Soup Dinner and Online Auction to Address Hunger in the Gorge
Enjoy a bowl of soup to help provide food for neighbors experiencing hunger in the Gorge this fall.
by Cole Goodwin
Columbia Gorge Food Bank is hosting its first annual Empty Bowls Benefit soup dinner and online auction. Empty Bowls is an international tradition that brings together artists and community members to support the fight against hunger, one bowl of soup at a time.
Bring the family, enjoy live music, and join them for dinner Thursday, October 6th, from 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. at the Bargeway Pub in The Dalles.
Tickets are a $20 suggested donation at the door.
Guests will be able to choose from three delicious soups, fresh local breads, and no-host bar refreshments. Each guest will also get to choose a handcrafted bowl to keep thanks to donations from local ceramics studios across the Gorge, backyard potters, and schools across the state.
Plus, get a sneak peek at the progress on the food bank’s new warehouse and Community Food Center, opening this winter.
Silvan Shawe, CGFB’s Community Philanthropy Manager said that the generosity of local artisans, businesses, and schools is “a reminder that although hunger persists in our community, we all have the power to help.”
Local artists, makers, and pottery students from across the state have donated bowls to the event so everyone who comes to the event gets to choose a handmade ceramic bowl to keep. Oregon Episcopal School Ceramics Students (pictured) help to carry the bowls they made during the pandemic to support the Columbia Gorge Food Bank.
“We are excited to host events like Empty Bowls, both to raise awareness of our work and to raise much needed funds to support expanding our programs and finish the renovation of our new warehouse and community food center,” said Shawe.
So far CGFB has raised $5,300 of their $15,000 goal.
Can’t make it to the event? Columbia Gorge Food Bank is kicking off the Empty Bowls benefit with an online auction featuring more than 50 exceptional handmade ceramic works, handcrafted items, local beer and wine, bowling for two, a “bowl cut” from Last Hope Barbershop and more! The online auction will open Monday, October 3 at 7:00 a.m. and closes Monday, October 10 at 7:00 p.m.
Browse the auction and place your bid at: fundraiser.bid/CGFB.
“We hope you’ll be bowled over by the auction items,” said Shawe.
Very punny, Shawe, very punny indeed.
While the event aims to be a night of delights for attendees, it also highlights increasing levels of food insecurity in the region and across the state.
Prior to the pandemic, 1 in 11 Oregonians experienced food insecurity, today it’s much higher.
Oregon's food insecurity doubled during the height of the pandemic, resulting in nearly 1.7 million people seeking food assistance through the Oregon Food Bank network.
Hunger is on the rise in our communities.
Over the summer of 2022, CGFB saw an additional 30% increase in food assistance needs.
Columbia Gorge Food Bank now provides free nutritious food to more than 5,000 families per month through 43 community partners and agencies in Sherman, Wasco, and Hood River counties.
CGFB has been working overtime to meet the communities' needs. The food bank reported that they had delivered approx. 2 million pounds of food in 2020, a 1,277,461 pound increase from 2016.
“For the last seven years CGFB has been building systems so that our neighbors and anyone who needs a little extra help making ends meet has equitable access to the food. During the pandemic, and as we are continuing to open new pantries and build new partnerships, we are doing everything we can to ensure that no one is hungry in our region,” said Sharon Thornberry, CGFB’s Manager.
Shawe said that the food bank is also doing their best to address not only the day to day need for food but also the need for increasing long-term food security in the gorge.
"As an organization, CGFB is growing and we are focusing on not only meeting the day to day need for food, but long term food security for the Gorge,” said Shawe.
Shawe also had a word of thanks for everyone who helped make the event possible.
“Thank you to the community artists, local businesses, and volunteers who have contributed to make this event possible. And a special thank you to the Empty Bowls event sponsors: Windermere Real Estate Columbia River Gorge, Consolidated Community Credit Union, Columbia Gorge Toyota, Google, Mike's Ice Cream, Cardinal Glass Industries, Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery, Gorge Granite Works, Azure Standard, Boda's Kitchen, H2Oregon, Ruddy Duck Clothing Store, and Capstone Partners.”
Interested in volunteering at this event? Contact gorge@oregonfoodbank.org to sign up.
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