The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County will host its 21st Annual Santa Maria Empty Bowls on Wednesday, Oct. 26 at the Santa Maria Fairpark, 937 S. Thornburg St., with three seatings, 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m. New bowls and fresh soups will be available at each seating.
This is the first time since 2019 that the community can gather in-person to choose from more than 1,000 unique, hand-painted bowls; and enjoy a simple lunch of soup and bread, a raffle, and a festive environment, all while providing healthy food to those in the Santa Maria community facing hunger and food insecurity.
Tickets cost $25 and are available online at www.FoodbankSBC.org/SMEB22 or may be purchased at the Foodbank’s Santa Maria warehouse, 490 W. Foster Road, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Health and safety recommendations in place on Oct. 26 from Santa Barbara County Public Health Department will be observed at the event.
The Foodbank will use all proceeds to provide healthy groceries, fresh produce, and nutrition education to Santa Maria residents facing hunger and food insecurity.
“The senior home delivery program brings great value to the community, not only in nutrition, but also in value,” said Claire Sheehy, Empty Bowls committee member, and member of the Foodbank Board of Trustees.
“I find great comfort and connection when I check on my recipients when I deliver fresh produce and groceries from the Foodbank,” she said.
The Empty Bowls raffle features prizes including handmade artisan creations, food and wines, and a variety of experiences.
As a special service this year, Empty Bowls volunteers will print labels with guests’ names and phone numbers for $3 per sheet of 80 labels, so they can stick them onto to raffle tickets and not have to repeatedly handwrite the information.
Entertainment will include music provided by Mirame Entertainment and bowl-making demonstrations by Mike McNutt of Allan Hancock College’s ceramics program.
“The Foodbank of Santa Barbara County has been there for our community every year,” said Ron Lovell, assistant professor and program coordinator for Culinary Arts and Management at Allan Hancock College, and a member of the Santa Maria Empty Bowls committee.
“The students at Allan Hancock College really appreciate the Food Share Because We Care event every week, and extra support when they really need it. Empty Bowls provides an opportunity for our culinary arts students to return the favor for the Foodbank,” he said.
Attendees can select from among hundreds of bowls provided by the Allan Hancock College ceramics program, as well as Melanie Enloe, Shirley Hinzo, Mike McNutt, Oasis Senior Center, Orcutt Academy High School, Righetti High School, St. Joseph High School, Santa Ynez High School, Sue Southern, Ben Trogdon, Vandenberg Spouses Club, and Foodbank volunteers.
The bowls can be used to enjoy the soup of the guest’s choice at the event, and to keep as a reminder of Empty Bowls’ purpose — to raise awareness and funds to serve those in our community who don’t have enough food to eat.
Gourmet soups will be created and donated by local chefs and restaurants including Allan Hancock College Culinary Program, Blast 825 (corn chowder), Center for Employment Training (CET), Cups and Crumbs, Jack’s in Old Orcutt (corn chowder), Jaffa Café (red lentil) Kay’s Country Kitchen, La Tapatia (green chicken posole), Lidos Concessions (chili), Olive Garden, Pizzeria Bello Forno (roasted red pepper and tomato), Vintner’s Bar & Grill at the Santa Maria Radisson (tomato basil), The Salty Brigade, Santa Maria Country Club, Santa Maria Inn, Splash Café (clam chowder), Testa Catering (roasted cauliflower) and Zoe’s Hawaiian BBQ (chicken tortilla.)
Leftover soup from the event will be shared with the Salvation Army for use when warming shelters open up during the cold winter months.
Community members who wish to volunteer for Santa Maria Empty Bowls (set-up, service, clean-up …) may sign up here or email Kelly Smith at KSmith@FoodbankSBC.org.
The Foodbank is grateful to the following sponsors of 2022 Santa Maria Empty Bowls:
Atlas Copco Mafi-Trench, CenCal Health, CoastHills Community Foundation, Mechanics Bank, Montecito Bank & Trust, Pacific Premier Bank, Union Bank, Allan Hancock College, Bethel Lutheran Church, Betteravia Farms, Community West Bank, Dignity Health, Farm Credit West, Grower-Shipper Association, Hardy Diagnostics, Pea King Produce, NECA-IBEW, Community Bank of Santa Maria, Innovative Produce, Judy Frost, and Pacific Western Bank.
The Foodbank is grateful to the Santa Maria Empty Bowls committee, which has worked for months to make this event possible: Patsy Aguirre, Donna Denham, Ron Lovell, Elizabeth Sanchez and Claire Sheehy (both Foodbank Board trustees), and Carol Torres.
For more information, contact the Foodbank, 805-967-5741 ext. 306.
Learn about Foodbank of Santa Barbara County at FoodbankSBC.org.