Empty Bowl Supper sets a new record for attendance
This year's Empty bowl was a flat out success. There is no other way to describe it. With a 60 % increase in attendance we actually had some real empty bowls. 400 plus is a hoard of people and they spent $22,000. Next year we will be doubling down on the food and seating. Other than the huge increase in attendance what was the other big surprise of the Night? Help Associates.
Help Associates, a non profit, volunteer only thrift store in Ownings, sponsored the Empty Bowl Supper with a check for $10,000. Have you ever considered how many pieces of apparel at $3.00 you have to sell to come up with $10,000? A lot! A whole lot. Like 3,333 garments. It is a lot of work and our thanks goes out to the members of Help Associates for their support of the homeless.
Lots of other folks help too. All the Soup and Cake came from Calvert Counties finest eateries;
Bob Evans restaurant, Bowen's Grocery, CD Cafe, Dreams Weaver, DuPaul's, Expressions Catering, Garner & Duff, Green Turtle, Heavenly Chicken & Ribs, Hong Kong V, Hooters, Jeneva's, Karen's of Calvert,
Maryland Country Caters, Mike's, Panera Bread, Ruby Tuesday, Skipper's Pier, Stoney's, Sweet Sue's, Turnabout Cafe
Flowers? Did you noticethe flowers on each table with the handcrafted pottery vases? Made by our potters and filled with stunning arrangements by Calvert County's very own Garden Club
Music? Oh did the hall ring with beautiful music! Everyone was entertained by three live groups– the Unclouded Day, Calvert County’s finest string band, and the choirs from Calvert and Huntingtown high schools which obviously have a very strong music programs. A special thanks goes out to Unclouded Day, who through a communication snafu, received almost no notice about the EBS date, but who managed to show up and perform as they alway do– brilliantly.
Last but not least, all year long the following pottery groups have been creating artistic masterpiece for all the attendees.
CalvART Gallery, Foxtail Potters, Bare Foot Potters, Huntingtown High School( Donna Baker's Class),
Shepard’s Hands Potters, Numerous individual Potters
This year's Empty Bowl Supper filled 12% of our budget for Echo House. Without this strong community support we would not be where we are today. With the continued support of the County Commissioners, the State of Maryland, United Way, and our other fund raising efforts, we should be able to keep our doors open and help transition the homeless to their own hearth.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, from the bottom of our hearts and bowls,
The Board, Staff, and Residents of ECHO House
PS A Specially big thanks to Father Daley and the Congregation of Saint John Vianney Church for providing the space and equipment that made all this possible. We even took up all the parking for Saturday night Mass!