Food bank’s ‘empty bowls’ fundraiser was ’souper’

Don Fowler
Posted 4/2/15

Not only does the Rhode Island Community Food Bank succeed in helping to feed the less fortunate in our state, it also knows how to put on a “souper” fundraiser for its many contributors.

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Food bank’s ‘empty bowls’ fundraiser was ’souper’

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Not only does the Rhode Island Community Food Bank succeed in helping to feed the less fortunate in our state, it also knows how to put on a “souper” fundraiser for its many contributors.

We have enjoyed its Food Truck fundraiser in Kennedy Plaza, where over a dozen food trucks offered their finest to contributing patrons.

Last week, the staff and volunteers of the Food Bank held their first (hopefully of many) “Empty Bowls” fundraisers at Rhodes on the Pawtuxet.

Over three dozen restaurants and caterers donated their services, providing a wide variety of soups, salads, chilies, pastas and desserts in one of the best organized and executed fundraisers I have ever attended.

The concept is actually 25 years old. An exhibit of the Empty Bowls projects around the country can be seen at the Culinary Arts Museum at Johnson & Wales University through July 2.

Upon entering Rhodes, we chose our ceramic bowls from hundreds that were handmade by local artists and proceeded to sample the delicious offerings.

From Mill’s Tavern’s King Crab Bisque to the Food Bank’s own Community Kitchen’s Cream spinach and tortellini soup and sweet potato chili, we worked our way around the huge hall, filled with happy faces and full stomachs.

Warwick was well represented by the 1149 Restaurant’s unique chilled pea soup with spicy lump crab; Legal Sea Food’s famous New England Clam Chowder; and Gregg’s Restaurant’s yummy cupcakes, biscotti and cookies.

Cranston’s Macera’s Italian Restaurant offered Penne with pink vodka sauce, while Chapel Grille had a New England lobster clam chowder to die for. Not to be outdone, Dave’s Marketplace offered turkey lasagna and broccoli cheddar soups.

It was a fun evening, but more than that the money raised will go a long way in helping to alleviate hunger in Rhode Island.

The bowls that Joyce and I took home will remind us every day that empty bowls still exist in Rhode Island, and we can do something to help fill them.

We will keep the list of participating restaurants handy, returning to them when we dine out, not only because their food was delicious, but also because of their commitment to the Food Bank and the thousands of people they are committed to help.

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