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Huge Crowd On Hand For Saturday’s Empty Bowls Fundraiser at Watauga High School, Updates on Crowd Size and Amount Raised

A glimpse of some of the unique bowls available at the 2019 Empty Bowls Fundraiser. Photo by Ken Ketchie.

By Hailey Blevins

A huge crowd of over 500 people gathered at Watauga High School on Saturday for the 18th Annual Empty Bowls Fundraiser. The evening featured a silent auction, desserts and live music. Members of Potters of the Blue Ridge organized this year’s “Teapot Challenge” for the silent auction. Items in the silent auction included gift certificates, merchandise, and artwork from local businesses, restaurants, and artisans.

Attendees chose a bowl from the wide selection available that was made by either a student or a local potter. Each bowl was a unique color, size or shape and serves as a reminder that there are always empty bowls and hungry people in the world. They then sat down with friends and family and enjoyed a bowl of soup.

Terri Stuart Niederhammer, program coordinator for the Hunger and Health Coalition, says “The restaurants that so generously donated food were: Wendy’s, Over Yonder, Stick Boy Kitchen, Stick Boy Bread, Pepper’s, Woodlands BBQ, New Public House, The Speckled Trout, FARM Cafe, Casa Rustica, Troy’s 105 Diner, and BBQ Burgers and Brews.”

Volunteers dished out many different types of soups from local restaurants. Stick Boy Bread Company provided rolls, Friends of Watauga provided desserts, and Bare Essentials Natural Market provided drinks.

The event was extremely successful, with the school cafeteria filled up. All proceeds from this event benefit the local Hunger and Health Coalition, which works to help families in Watauga who are struggling with food insecurity. So far, the total that was raised is $11,679.73.

Pictures from Empty Bowls by Ken Ketchie: