THUNDER BAY — The success of the 23rd annual Empty Bowls Caring Hearts charity event was on full display during a cheque presentation ceremony on Friday.
On Friday, representatives from Shelter House Thunder Bay and the Thunder Bay Food Bank were presented with cheques from the funds raised during the event on Oct. 14 totaling $23,000.
Shelter House executive director Cal Rankin said the donation is a serious help toward reaching their fundraising goal this year.
“We are truly appreciative of it, it adds value to everything that that we do,” he said. “The dollars that we receive from the community, and we are truly grateful.”
The 2022 event was offered again as a drive-through experience, which organizers say builds on the success of the event in 2021.
This year’s event featured soup prepared by five community organizations in addition to handmade pottery bowls crafted by local artisans, including members of the Thunder Bay Potters’ Guild.
The five participating organizations included Willow Springs Creative Centre, the Regional Food Distribution Association, Roots Community Food Centre, Our Kids Count and Shelter House Thunder Bay.
Additional support from Tbaytel and Miller Precast Ltd. allowed the event to offer plastic free packaging for the soup as well as continue to use the Moose Hall as the event location.
Food donations dropped off during the drive-through, as well as a generous donation from the students at Woodcrest Public School, added more than 900 kilograms of food to the effort.
Thunder Bay Food Bank board chair Allison Hill said the donation will keep their shelves stocked for the next few months.
“We are open every second week,” she said. “We practically empty the shelves every time we're open, so we're constantly having to get food donations or purchase food to fill the shelves for our next food bank date.”
Organizers say that planning is already underway for the 24th annual event, which is scheduled for Oct. 15, 2023, and the organizing team is planning to share updates in the months leading up to next year’s event.
