Soup or Socks Fundraiser Returns on March 11
Marshfield Area Empty Bowls strives to help those facing hunger and hardship. This year on March 11 will be the sixth year that the Marshfield Area Empty Bowls has hosted an event, according to Soup or Socks director Cheryl Lewis Hartl.
“Locally, our event began with massive planning in 2011, leading to our first event in 2012,” she said. “The 2012 event raised over $6,000 for Soup or Socks. To date, Marshfield Area Empty Bowls has raised approximately $60,000 for Soup or Socks.”
The Empty Bowls campaign is an international hunger awareness program started more than 20 years ago by an art teacher in Michigan. Local artists create and donate bowls for the event. Then, participants purchase soup and the keepsake bowl to take home. The money raised goes to local food pantries (to Soup or Socks here in Marshfield).
An event like this takes a lot of volunteers and preparation.
“The Empty Bowls 2017 steering committee is comprised of 10 area women who each take on a piece of the event and lead the way. We have a team for soup, bowls, raffle, dining area, public relations, volunteer scheduling and coordinating all the teams together, “ she said.
Even though the Empty Bowls event is a lot of work, Hartl looks forward to it every year.
“We are always excited for the event. It is a great way to spend a few hours and support a great cause. We strive to have an event that is not only fun, but brings awareness to hunger issues close to home,” she said.
Hartl hopes many in the community come out to support the event so that Soup or Socks can continue to help households in Marshfield and other areas of Wood, Marathon and Clark counties.
“The goal of the event is to raise money for Soup or Socks. We have never set a ‘goal’ for the event. We have for the 1st time this year set a goal of $20,000,” she said.
Beyond the goal of raising funds, Hartl thinks the event will be a great experience for attendees.
“We would like the community to participate to have a good time, try some soup from a local restaurant, pick out a beautiful bowl that was created with love, just for Empty Bowls,” she said. “It is also important to learn about Soup or Socks, what they do for the community, and how you may help whenever you can.”
She also hopes that people will come to Empty Bowls and check out their food display table.
“This will be an interactive experience,” she said. “Featured will be the types of food in the amounts we give a household of 4. The food is planned to last for 5 days. We want people to give us feedback on what they think. Would the food presented last your family? What do they think we should also include/eliminate? What would you make for meals if this was all the food you had in your house? We will also have other educational displays in other areas of the event.”
Whether or not the event meets or exceeds goals this year, Hartl said it will be a success.
“I have always said just having the event and teaching one person about Soup or Socks or making $1 more than we did the year before is a successful event. I would of course this year like to meet or exceed the goal we have set,” she said.
“We have several soups confirmed. Santa Fe Soup from A Slice of Heaven, Duchess from Daily Grind and Cheeseburger from Nutz Deep are just a few we will have to offer,” Lewis Hartl said.
Lewis Hartl hopes people stop down to Hotel Marshfield on March 11 to help a great cause, see some great artistry (in the bowls), eat some scrumptious soups, and maybe win a few prizes.
2017 Marshfield Area Empty Bowls
When: March 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: Hotel Marshfield, 2700 S. Central Ave.
Cost: Ages 4 and under are free and receive soup, but not a keepsake bowl.
$10 admission choice of 12 oz bowl or (3) 4 oz bowls. Flight option allows guests to try three different soups. $15 admission allows flight and 12 oz bowls
