Do you have your tickets for Butte’s Empty Bowls yet?
Think of all the fundraisers and benefits that are held each year here in the Mining City. Then think about how many people show up at every event, and all the people who donate items or cash for every gathering. It’s amazing. Butte truly takes care of it's own.
I am fortunate to be part of several outstanding events every year, but without question, the one I look forward to more than any other is Empty Bowls.
Empty Bowls is a fundraiser for the Butte Food Bank, and the Backpack Program. The Backpack program is an effort to make sure every kid has enough to eat away from school. The Program provides child-friendly, non-perishable food that is easily prepared at home for kids and distributed in backpacks before weekends and holidays. Students that are chronically hungry are identified by teachers, and volunteers discretely deposit the prepared bags of food in the children’s backpacks during the school day. The program also assists high school students, with the Butte High School bag program. The bags contain enough food for a weekend. The more money raised for the program, the more backpacks that can be filled and distributed to youth in need. Students who are well-fed are more attentive in school, retain more, and enter the school week in decidedly better moods. The Butte Food Bank is currently providing over 1,300 backpack meals per month.
This year’s event will once again be held in the Butte Civic Center on April 5th from 6-8 pm. There are two different ways that you can get in the door. There is a $20 ticket that will allow you to pick a soup bowl, and then your fill of fantastic soups. There is also a $100 ticket that will allow you to pick a Large bowl, and again all the soup you want.
If you thought that once you picked your favorite bowl your decision-making was done, you are sorely mistaken. The number of businesses and organizations that donate soup (and bread) is amazing. The number of choices is crazy, from chilis and stews to vegan choices, and everything in between, there is something for everyone.
I can’t thank the volunteers enough that make this event happen. Creating 1,300 bowls for the event takes an army, and that army works tirelessly year-round to create these pieces of art. Then the business and individuals that volunteer soup and all those who volunteer to serve it to the 1,000+ people that attend every year.
There is still a need for more volunteers, if you can lend a hand, call the Butte Food Bank at 406-782-3814.
Tickets can be purchased at the Butte Food Bank, or from others in the community. They will sell out, so make sure to get yours as soon as possible.
Excited to see you all at Empty Bowls on April 5th at the Butte Civic Center.