Local News
Empty Bowls Raises Over Seven Thousand Dollars For Area Food Patnries
Fond du Lac, WI – Over $7,000 was raised in support of area food pantries thanks to attendees, donors and sponsors of the 2016 Empty Bowls Fundraiser. The event, which was held on November 30, 2016 at the Holiday Inn, united community members, area businesses and students in support of a great cause.
Organized by the Leadership Fond du Lac Alumni Group and sponsored by Agnesian HealthCare and Associated Bank, this event brought awareness to hunger in our community and it provided an opportunity for the community to come together to raise money for local food pantries and shelters. This year, five area food pantries benefited from the proceeds of the Empty Bowls Fundraiser, with each receiving a check for $1,534. The following food pantries were assisted: Broken Bread, Fondy Food Pantry, Loaves & Fishes, Salvation Army and St. Vincent DePaul.
The success of this event could not have been possible without the help of area businesses, donors, student artists and Leadership Fond du Lac Alumni – all coming together to give of their time, talents and resources. Delicious soups were donated by Boda’s Restaurant, Fond du Lac High School, Holiday Inn Fond du Lac, Idlewile Inn, Salty’s Seafood & Spirits, and Trepanier’s Backyard Grill and Bar. With each restaurant donating 20 gallons of soup, event attendees were able to sample various soups, as well as milk, breads and desserts provided by: Aramark, Annie’s Fountain City Café, Baker’s Pride Bakery, Festival Foods, Fishy’s Bakery, Horace Mann High School, Lake Breeze Dairy Group, Linstrom’s Catering, Moraine Park Technical College, and Schreiner’s Restaurant.
A cornerstone of this event is the concept and reality of an empty bowl, which serves as a reminder for those who go hungry every day. To bring awareness to this important social need, area art students and organizations crafted more than 500 bowls, which allowed every event attendee to take a bowl, signifying the true purpose of the event.
Participating schools and organizations included: Campbellsport Middle and High School, Empty Bowls Committee, Fond du Lac High School, Helping Hands 4-H Group, Horace Mann High School, Laconia High School, Marian University, North Fond du Lac Alternative Learning Center, St. Mary’s Springs Academy – High School, Theisen Middle School, and Winnebago Lutheran Academy.