PUTNEY-The southern Vermont Empty Bowls steering committee is planning its 21st annual Empty Bowls Dinner - benefitting Foodworks, the region's most heavily utilized food shelf program, operated by Groundworks Collaborative.
This year's dinner will be served on Saturday, Oct. 12, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Landmark College in Putney. Diners purchase tickets for the event and select a handmade bowl to keep, crafted by one of many local potters. The menu features soups donated by 14 area restaurants, accompanied by local bread, apples, and cheese - all in support of stocking the shelves at Foodworks, which served over 4,700 local residents last year.
The potters are at the heart of this event, with over 40 local artisans and several pottery studios generously donating their handmade bowls.
"We've been collecting bowls for the event since we opened in 2018 and have dedicated shelving where potters can donate bowls all year round," Shari Zabriskie, co-owner of Wheelhouse Clay Center in Brattleboro, said in a news release.
Zabriskie said that this year marked a new milestone for Wheelhouse. "This year was the first time we held a 'bowlerama' with the intention of gathering people to make bowls together. The event was perfect for new potters without any experience to learn some hand-building skills, while some of our wheel-throwers gathered to crank out pots on the wheel." Reflecting on the success of the event, she added, "I'd like to continue this as a fun and productive new tradition."
She also reflected on the meaningful connection between pottery and food. "The life of a potter revolves around crafting vessels that go beyond their utilitarian function. We search for beauty in our work: curves that give pause, subtle shifts in color, or sculpted details that generate a reaction."
She compared the artistry of pottery to that of cooking: "As a chef prepares meals to delight all the senses, a potter seeks to create vessels with useful vibrancy. A handmade bowl has the potential to hold and complement a meal while giving pause; within this pause, we find inspiration and perhaps deeper gratitude for the moment and all that went into it."
She also highlighted the communal significance of this work. "There is a tie between the farmer, the potter, the cook, and family. When we recognize this tie as a conscientious community, we become deeper, more nourished, and possibly better prepared to show up for one another. Empty Bowls is the perfect example of a table set with all these intentions, and at the heart of it is community."
Last year's Empty Bowls raised just over $27,000 in sponsorships, dinner tickets, and bowl sales. This year, organizers aim to surpass previous fundraising efforts as Foodworks faces a significant rise in the demand for supplemental food, driven by the growing needs of the community.
Foodworks is open for shopping hours on Monday through Friday each week. Patrons can shop with the opportunity to choose their groceries from what the program has on offer at 141 Canal St. in Brattleboro.
Foodworks rescues and redistributes $500,000 worth of food annually, and each month sees more people benefiting from this effort. They're currently welcoming upwards of 60 new households every month.
"It is so heartening to see so many people working together to ensure that our neighbors have access to quality food at no cost," said Groundworks Executive Director Libby Bennett.
Empty Bowls Dinner tickets and bowls are now on sale both in Brattleboro and Putney. Bowls and tickets are available at Everyone's Books in Brattleboro and the Putney Food Co-op. Bowls only are available for sale at Brattleboro Food Co-op, Kitchen Sync, and Zephyr Design, in Brattleboro and at the Putney General Store.
Dinner tickets can also be purchased online at GroundworksVT.org/EVENTS. Adult tickets are $30 online or at the door. Youth tickets are $15 for ages 7–15, and free for children 6 and under.
Each bowl or ticket sold allows Foodworks to provide a family of five with supplemental food for two weeks, as the program purchases wholesale pallets of food from the Vermont Foodbank to supplement donations and Fresh Rescue items.
In addition to Foodworks, Groundworks Collaborative operates the Groundworks Drop-In Center and Overnight Shelter on South Main Street, while also providing housing navigation and retention services to over 300 additional households. To learn more, visit GroundworksVT.org.
This Special section item was submitted to The Commons.