BELLOWS FALLS — The 26th Empty Bowl event to benefit Our Place Drop-in Center's food pantry gets underway Sunday, Nov. 19, at 5 p.m. at Alyson's Orchard in Walpole, New Hampshire.
Tickets are on sale for the event at $40 each, which includes a supper of signature soups from local restaurants and chefs, as well as silent and live auctions, with items and services donated by local businesses and individuals. Village Square Booksellers in Bellows Falls, Galloway Real Estate in Walpole, and Our Place are selling tickets, or they may be purchased online at ourplacevermont.org.
With the theme of "Gather and Share," the event begins with an auction preview and social hour. Proceeds of the dinner go toward supporting the food programs of Our Place, which include a food pantry, daily breakfasts and lunches to go, and grocery deliveries to homebound seniors.
"Ever since the pandemic lockdown, and now with the rising costs of groceries, gasoline, and other necessities, we've seen more families having to supplement their food budgets with visits to the pantry," Our Place Executive Director Dave Billings said in a news release. "This important fundraiser helps us keep meeting the needs of our neighbors who are struggling."
"We've been serving 100 lunches every weekday, so we know the need is there," said Our Place Board President Sarah Campbell. "We are so grateful for the community's support of our efforts to fill that need."
The oldest such event in the area, say organizers, the Our Place Empty Bowl is part of an international effort that began in 1990 to raise money for food programs. What started as a local effort in a Michigan high school has grown into a worldwide program that has raised more than a million dollars to help fight hunger.
Located at 4 Island St. in Bellows Falls, the mission of Our Place is to connect people to food and each other. It serves families in the greater Rockingham and surrounding areas, as well as Walpole and North Walpole. Further information is available by contacting Our Place at 802-463-2217, emailing info@ourplacevermont.org, or on Facebook.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.