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21st Annual Santa Barbara Empty Bowls
November 11, 2018 @ 11:00 am PST
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County will host its 21st Annual Santa Barbara Empty Bowls fundraiser on Sunday, November 11, 2018 at the Ben Page Youth Center, 4540 Hollister Ave. Seatings are scheduled for 11 a.m., 12 noon, and 1 p.m. The annual event raises awareness about hunger and food insecurity throughout the community and raises funds to end hunger in Santa Barbara County.
“We are grateful to the hundreds of supporters who attend this event, the many artists and ceramicists who contribute the bowls, the restaurants that provide the soup, the local businesses, foundations and individuals who donate auction items and funds to support the Foodbank, and the volunteers who help us put on this event,” said Erik Talkin, CEO of the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. “Thanks to their combined efforts our Foodbank is able to serve 1 in 4 county residents through our more than 300 non-profit partners.”
Empty Bowls founder and committee chair Danyel Dean added that the event has raised nearly $2 million over the past 20 years and in doing so has provided nearly 16 million meals to hungry county residents.
“It’s a fun and affordable way to support the Foodbank,” she added. “All who attend leave with a unique handcrafted bowl, and the great feeling that comes from being part of such a wonderful, caring community and knowing you contributed to the fight to end hunger.”
The regular $30 admission includes a simple meal of soup and bread. This year’s soups will be provided by more than 20 local restaurants, including Beachside Bar-Café, Benchmark Eatery, Biltmore Four Seasons, Bouchon, Due Lune, Finch & Fork, Fresco Café, Helena Avenue Bakery, Jane (Santa Barbara), Louie’s California Bistro, Lucky’s, Olio e Limone Ristorante, Opal Restaurant & Bar, Pascale’s Kitchen, Savoy Café & Deli, The Secret Ingredient, Stella Mare’s Bistro, Toma Restaurant & Bar, Tyger Tyger, Wildwood Kitchen, Zookers Restaurant, and Bluewater Grill.
Bread donors include Hove’s Loaves, local maker of fresh sourdough breads, and Costco.
For a larger donation of $100, supporters will also receive a 2018 limited-edition bowl made by local artists Danyel Dean and Merrilee Ford, and a raffle ticket pack (10 tickets).
The event also includes a raffle drawing for a variety of prizes, including meals at local restaurants, overnight stays at luxury hotels, and a variety of services and gift items. A variety of hand-crafted ceramic items will also be available, some for sale and some part of a silent auction.
Lunch guests will also have an opportunity to tour the Foodbank’s warehouse located next door to the Page Center, learn more about the Foodbank’s mission and programs, and enjoy cookies donated by Belmond El Encanto and coffee donated by Montecito Coffee Company.
Sponsors of the 2018 Empty Bowls include the Wood-Claeyssons Foundation; Deckers Brands; Thomchin Family Charitable Trust; Frank Schipper Construction; Mary Dee Thompson; Montecito Bank & Trust; Pacific Premier Bank; Maryan Schall; Union Bank; Aera Energy; The Towbes Foundation; Cyndee Howard Family; The Ford Family; Jack and Anita Tiethof; Carolyn and Philip Wyatt; Sara Miller McCune; Danyel Dean and Peter Castellanos; Susan Rose; Leon and Elizabeth Olson; HUB International; NS Ceramic; J. W. Colin Family; CenCal Health; Matt and Kerry Ellison; Peggy and Bryant Shoemaker; Angela Moloney Braverman – Realtor Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices; Susan and Jeff Bridges.
Tickets can be purchased online at https://donate.foodbanksbc.org/event/santa-barbara-empty-bowls-2018/e187241. Free parking will be available at San Marcos High School and a free shuttle provided by Santa Barbara Airbus will transport guests between the school and the Page Center. Limited $5 parking will be available near the Page Center, with Blue Star Parking providing valet services.
For more information, please contact the Foodbank at (805) 967-5741 ext. 110, or Empty Bowls Santa Barbara representative Danyel Dean at (805) 564-6603.
About Foodbank of Santa Barbara County
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is transforming health by eliminating hunger and food insecurity through good nutrition and food literacy. The Foodbank provides nourishment and education through a network of more than 300 partner agencies, nutrition education programs operated by the Foodbank, and volunteers. In Santa Barbara County, one in four people receive food support from the Foodbank annually; over 150,000 unduplicated people of whom 39% are children. Last year, the Foodbank distributed 10 million pounds of food–nearly half of which was fresh produce. For more information, visit www.foodbanksbc.org.