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Welcome to the "All About Empty Bowls" e-newsletter issue! Scroll down to read about this year's fundraising goals... who creates the bowls that you can take home... what's on for this year's soup chefs... where to find answers to frequently asked questions (like where to park) ... and more. One small thing that helps a lot is to forward this email to a friend. See the link to forward this, at the bottom of the page. |
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 Help us surpass our goal of $50,000
Empty Bowls is now River City Community Service's major fundraiser of the year.
This year's event - to be held Tuesday, March 10th, 11 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the Masonic Temple, 1123 J Street - also has a new level of urgency since almost 50 percent more people are coming to River City Community Services for emergency food assistance, compared to two years ago.
"We've added new levels of sponsorships for families, beginning at $100," says Katie Brown, this year's event chair. "These sponsorships will make it possible for us to raise at least $50,000 for the growing numbers of hungry people in Sacramento."
River City Community Services served a record 36,305 people in 2008, primarily working poor adults, adults securing food for children, seniors and pregnant women. With River City Community Services' low administrative overhead, $50,000 goes a long way and will be stretched to provide a three-day emergency food supply to more than 5,000 people. |
Tickets are now available online!
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 Who makes all of those empty bowls?
For every bowl on display at Empty Bowls, there is a story. Besides the hundreds of people who help by purchasing tickets and attending, hundreds more make a difference by putting their creativity and compassion into works of heart.
C.J. Romero, Loretto High School teacher, emails, "I marvel each year at 'seeing' the EMPTY MINDS fill with possibilities as I guide my students through the EMPTY BOWLS project. (Their) EMPTY HANDS fill with clay and ...form the EMPTY BOWLS that will provide the means to fill the empty stomachs of the needy in Sacramento."
CJ's students have pledged to deliver 50 of the 921 bowls promised so far for this year's event.
The newest potter to come aboard is Kevin Langham, a senior attending Sacramento Waldorf School. Kevin actually heard about Empty Bowls and came to River City Community Services with the news that he plans to donate 50, as part of his senior project.
Other schools donating bowls this year include: Twin Lakes Elementary School, Christian Brothers, Cordova High School, Consumnes Oaks High School, Del Campo High School, Encina High School, Florin High School, Galt High School, Granite Bay High School, Loretto High School, Natomas High School, Pleasant Grove High School, San Juan High School, Sheldon High School, Vista Del Lago High School, American River College Sacramento City College, and Sierra College.
On the other end of the age spectrum, seniors at Mercy McMahon Terrace, an assisted living community, have pledged to create 10 bowls. Participants at the Robertson Adult Day Care Center have also pledged 20 bowls.
Some of the most polished bowl creations come from professional potters and amateurs who participate in ceramic and pottery workshops. Bowls are expected from: Firebox Ceramic Art and Sculpture, P.K. Bryan Ceramics Studio and Student Workshop, The Mudpie Pottery, Mary Classen Studio, Garon's Own Jumping Chicken Pottery, Art on 7th Avenue, Chris Efstratis' Natural Fire, Sacramento City Park and Rec's Hands in Mud group, Charles Moore Pottery, Village Clayworks, John C. Reiger Pottery and Central Clay.
Read Anita Creamer's wonderful profile of Hands in Mud leader Libby Harmor! |
Something to get you salivating!
This year, soups for Empty Bowls will be created and donated by: Scott's Seafood Bar and Grill, Lucca Restaurant, Paragary's Restaurant Group, Michelangelo's Italian Art Restaurant -- and, new this year, The Waterboy and 33rd Street Bistro. The Waterboy was listed as one of the region's top restaurants in the new Sacramento Zagat's guide. A vegetarian option is always included among the soup options. And not to forget the carbohydrates, breads and goodies will be provided by: Ettore's, Goodie Tuchews, and Cupcake Craving. |
 Support Empty Bowls by telling a friend -- and here's how
One of the best ways to promote Empty Bowls is to forward information to friends. Here's draft language that you can copy, paste and use - or make up your own message:
I hope this finds you well! I'm sending you this email because I've recently gotten involved in supporting a very worthy cause that has become more urgent than ever in our area - hunger.
The Empty Bowls luncheon, to be held at the Sacramento Masonic Temple on March 10th, will raise badly needed funds for River City Community Services (RCCS), a non-profit that serves anyone in need in Sacramento with emergency food and housing assistance.
For a $25 donation, you get a delicious soup lunch made by restaurants including The Waterboy, Scott's Seafood, Paragary's Restaurant Group, Lucca's and Michelangelo's. But I think the best part will be handmade bowls made by students and artists from throughout the region. You can choose one from the hundreds donated to take home as a powerful symbol of the many empty bowls in our community.
You can get tickets online now from http://www.rivercitycommunitservices.org, or from any of four retail locations starting the first week in February:
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Last minute volunteer needs, and answers to frequently asked questions - like where to park!
As of "press time", we have a few key volunteer needs, including someone to inventory and coordinate supplies (not food, but other items). To volunteer, contact Kathie Hanna at kathiehanna@yahoo.com. We also need people to distribute event posters to retailers in the downtown, midtown and other areas, as well as one or two people to hang the banner promoting the event from the 2nd floor window of the Masonic Temple on or about February 26th. To help with posters and signage, contact Eileen Thomas, rccsca@sbcglobal.net or 446-2627 x3001.
A lengthy list of Frequently Asked Questions, and answers, are posted on our "About Empty Bowls" page on the website. Check it out! |
Sponsors bowl us over!
Sponsorships at the "Family" level ($100) are a great way of reminding kids about the importance of helping others, or become a "Friend of Empty Bowls" for $250.
Sponsorship coordinator Norma Lammers is still looking for companies to approach (perhaps with an introduction from you) as a corporate sponsor. Do you have ideas about companies we might approach? Sponsorship opportunities range from $1,000 on up, with increasing levels of opportunity for recognition.
To learn about recognition opportunities and/or become a sponsor, contact Norma Lammers at Lammersn@comcast.net. Check out the website for more details about sponsorship levels.
And a million thanks for the return of Western Health Advantage and Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento as sponsors! | |
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Eileen Thomas