COMMUNITY

Empty Bowls to benefit Marion-Polk food share

Empty Bowls, the Willamette Art Center’s annual fundraising sale benefitting Marion-Polk Food Share is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 20. The one-day sale will be in Cascade Hall at the Oregon State Fairgrounds, featuring handcrafted pottery, wood turned bowls and wood carved crafts from local artisans.

The sales starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.

“The sale is a great opportunity to help feed those in need and get an early start on holiday shopping,” said Kevin Herzberg, executive director of the Willamette Art Center.  

Artisans from the pottery studio have teamed up with Willamette Valley Woodturners and Capital Woodcarvers, working all year to make handcrafts for the event. This year’s sale will feature the namesake Empty Bowls, as well as ceramic planters, dishes, vases, mugs and cups, luminaries, platters, pitchers and other handmade pottery. The Capitol Woodcarvers have contributed hand carved spoons and the Willamette Valley Woodturners are donating turned wood bowls to the sale. The sale has been moved to Cascade Hall at the Oregon State Fairgrounds to provide more space for social distancing. COVID protocols and sanitation will be in place, and shoppers should come prepared with masks.

The Empty Bowls sale first started in Salem in 2007 and has raised approximately $20,000 annually to benefit hungry neighbors in Marion and Polk counties. Each dollar raised provides three meals to those in need.

“We are grateful for our longstanding partnership with Willamette Art Center and are thrilled for the return of Empty Bowls this year,” said Rick Gaupo, president and CEO of Marion Polk Food Share. 

Visit at: https://www.willametteartcenter.com/event/empty-bowls/