The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County will host the 18th Lompoc Empty Bowls fundraiser Wednesday, July 26 at Dick DeWees Community & Senior Center, 1120 Ocean Ave., with seatings at 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
The Foodbank will use all proceeds raised to provide healthy groceries, fresh produce, and nutrition education to Lompoc residents facing food insecurity.
Tickets cost $25 and are available at www.FoodbankSBC.org/LEB23, or at Chapter 2 Bookstore, 1137 North H St., Ste. Q, Lompoc, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday; and Vandenberg Village Water District Office, 3745 E. Constellation Road, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday.
Some outdoor seating will be available at the event. Health and safety recommendations in place on July 26 from Santa Barbara County Public Health Department will be observed.
In 2022, the Foodbank distributed 1,036,076 pounds of food to 18,569 unduplicated individuals within the Lompoc community, through 20 programs by noprofit and faith-based partners, in addition to its direct-to-client programs.
Empty Bowls guests will select a unique, hand-painted bowl and enjoy a simple lunch of soup, bread and water, all free with ticket.
Attendees can also participate in a raffle, enter a silent auction, and purchase custom succulent plantings. The community-based raffle and silent auction will feature prizes, including handmade artisan creations, food and wines, and experiences.
Entertainment will include bowl-making demonstrations by Mike McNutt of Allan Hancock College’s ceramics program.
“Lompoc Empty Bowls is an event that reflects the kind, compassionate spirit of our Lompoc community,” said Anna Boren, donor relations supervisor and event organizer.
“Lompoc is my hometown, and Lompoc Empty Bowls will always be near and dear to my heart,” she said. “I actually used to attend Empty Bowls before I worked for the Foodbank.
“The event is a truly special day in which we all come together to ensure our neighbors and relatives have access to nutritious food. Empty Bowls gives Lompoc residents the opportunity to connect with each other and have a delicious meal, all while supporting the Foodbank’s mission to turn hunger into health in Santa Barbara County.
“We are on track to raise over $50,000 for Lompoc this year.”
“The generosity of the community, the great soups, ceramic bowls and the fun of the gathering are all well worth it,” said a participant in last year’s Lompoc Empty Bowls.
Attendees can choosing from hundreds of one-of-a-kind bowls, painted or created by community members throughout Lompoc. Many of the bowls were glazed by art students at Lompoc Valley Middle School. Lompoc residents also made bowls at bowl painting parties hosted by the Foodbank.
The bowls can be used to enjoy the soup of the guest’s choice at the event. Each guest takes their bowl home as a reminder of Empty Bowls’ purpose — to provide food for neighbors facing food insecurity.
Gourmet soups will be donated by local chefs and restaurants including Alfie’s Fish and Chips, American Host, Glaze’s BBQ, Lompoc Valley Medical Center, Mi Amore, Old Town Kitchen & Bar, Santa Ynez Valley Community Outreach, Tom’s Burgers, and Wild West Pizza.
Leftover soup from the event will be donated to community programs that feed the hungry in Lompoc.
Community members who wish to volunteer for Lompoc Empty Bowls (set-up, service, clean-up) may sign up at www.FoodbankSBC.org/VolunteerNorthCounty or email Kelly Smith, KSmith@FoodbankSBC.org.
The Foodbank thanks the following sponsors of the 2023 Lompoc Empty Bowls: Baroda Farms, Dr. Khawar Gul, Imerys, CoastHills Community Foundation, Maureen Tolson, Mechanics Bank, ExxonMobil, CenCal Health, Allan Hancock College, RARE Electric, Starbuck-Lind Mortuary, Wealth Enhancement Group, Santa Barbara Foundation, the Holdsambeck Family, Engen Enterprises, Village Veterinary Clinic, and James Raggio.
The Foodbank also thanks the Lompoc Empty Bowls Committee: chairperson Erika Culwell, Pam Gnekow, Denise Laliberte, Alice Laufer, Julie Menicucci, Leslie Sherrill, Yvette Cope, Kirsten Chipps, Michele Hunt, Ann Card, Patricia French, Amy McCounnaughey, Ann Ladwig, Sarah Gunter, Eileen Geraci, and Cristina Ortega.
The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County provides nourishment and education through a network of more than 200 partner agencies, nutrition education programs and food distribution sites.
In Santa Barbara County, one in four people receive support from the Foodbank; 38% of the individuals serve dare children.
For more, visit FoodbankSBC.org or call 805-967-5741 ext. 306.