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HomeBusinessEmpty Bowls Fundraiser November 14 at Up Yonder in Grand Marais

Empty Bowls Fundraiser November 14 at Up Yonder in Grand Marais

Empty Bowls Cook County hosts its an­nual fundraiser meals on Thursday, Novem­ber 14, at Up Yon­der, 1615 W Hwy 61, Grand Marais. The simple soup lunch will be served from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and dinner from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Empty Bowls Cook County is a local non-profit that rais­es awareness of and brings solutions to food insecurity in the county. The United States Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as the lack of access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life. Food insecurity is associated with nu­merous adverse social and health outcomes and is increasingly considered a critical public health issue.

According to the non-profit Feeding America, roughly ten percent of Cook County’s population is classified as food insecure. Almost half of them are above the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) threshold for receiv­ing benefits.

The Empty Bowls food program was founded in 1990 by John Hartom, an art teacher at Lahser High School in Bloomfield Hills, MI. His students sought a creative way to raise funds to sup­port a local food drive. Hartom’s idea was to organize a char­itable event where his students would make ceramic bowls as serving pieces for a fundraising meal of soup and bread. Guests would pay a donation to attend the event and keep the bowl as a reminder of the meal’s purpose.

The concept of Empty Bowls quick­ly gained popularity, and similar events be­gan to be held world­wide. The program has raised millions of dollars to support food banks, soup kitchens, and other organiza­tions that fight hun­ger. It also serves as a powerful tool for rais­ing awareness about the issue of hunger and food insecurity.

Beth Kennedy, a volunteer on the local group’s five-person board of directors, em­phasized the urgency of the situation, say­ing, “We try to make the whole community aware that people are suffering (with food insecurity) in Cook County.”

In the past year, the Empty Bowls effort distributed almost $89,000 to 25 local groups requesting help. This significant contribution, all de­voted to food relief efforts, is a testament to the power of com­munity support.

The 25 recipients of Empty Bowls grants represent a diverse group of community service organizations, each with a unique ap­proach to addressing food insecurity.

Grocery store gift cards are granted to the county public health agency and the Violence Prevention Center to help people in emergencies.

The Northwoods Food Project, which operates a public mar­ket for locally sourced foods in season, re­ceives funds from Empty Bowls. These funds ensure that chil­dren get a $5 weekly gift card to purchase healthy foods, and se­niors receive a food voucher, helping them find nutritious foods.

Operation Fami­ly Christmas, which collects and distrib­utes Christmas gifts to many families in the county, received a $5,000 grant for gro­cery gift certificates to help brighten the hol­idays for those strug­gling to have enough food.

Lunch and supper on the 14th consist of soup from more than a dozen local restau­rants, with a roll, wa­ter, and coffee. The leadership of Empty Bowls wants people to know that for some of our neighbors, a bowl of soup might be all they have to eat in a day.

The donation for a bowl of soup is $8. If you plan to get a refill, the donation is $14. Soup will also be packed in quarts for a $15 donation. Kids are welcome; if they’re ten or younger, they get a bowl of soup for free. There are also donated baked goods on sale.

Honoring the roots of Empty Bowls, there are hand-made bowls crafted by local arti­sans for sale.

According to Ken­nedy, the board hopes to raise $117,000 this year, ensuring each grant applicant re­ceives the $5000 max­imum contribution.

Last year, the gen­erous support of two large benefactors, along with numerous business sponsors, individual sponsors, and table sponsors, contributed to the cause.

In the proud tradi­tion started 34 years ago by Mr. Hartom’s art students, the five-person volunteer board members have made Cook Coun­ty aware of the food insecurity crisis. In addition to Beth Ken­nedy, other board members include Pat Campanaro, Donna Lunke, Bobby Col­lins, and Terri Nelson.

The board members eagerly anticipate your participation at Up Yonder on the 14th. Your presence and support are cru­cial to the success of this event.

If you can’t attend but would like to do­nate to Empty Bowls Cook County, you can visit the website EmptyBowlsCook­County.org or mail a check to Empty Bowls, PO Box 294, Grand Marais, MN 55604.

For more infor­mation about Emp­ty Bowls, check out EmptyBowlsGM on Facebook or email emptybowlsccmn@gmail.com.

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