Soup will fill empty bowls for a good cause this Sunday.
"Empty Bowls Schoharie County" includes soup, bread and hand-crafted bowls, with all proceeds going to help county residents who need food.
Empty Bowls will be at the Best Western from 11am to 2pm.
Spearheaded by Jacqui Hauser and Erynne Ansel-McCabe, Empty Bowls started in the spring as a simple idea:
Have people make pottery bowls and sell them.
More than 600 bowls later, Ms. Hauser judged Empty Bowls a success.
"The response has been phenomenal," she said.
Students, families, scouts, the Schoharie County Board of Supervisors local celebrities and employees at businesses such as Sterling Insurance, the Best Western and SUNY Cobleskill turned out to make bowls.
The Cobleskill-Richmondville High School Art Club and classes made about 150 of the bowls, Ms. Hauser said.
Most of the bowls were made and fired at The Studio for Art and Craft, Ms. Hauser's store in Cobleskill.
Decorated however the makers wanted, the bowls will be on sale for $5 apiece on Sunday, and diners can pick which ones they want.
More than 20 local restaurants, including the Best Western, George Mann Tory Tavern, the Carrot Barn, Justine's, the Parrott House, A Taste of Europe and others have donated soup and bread for Sunday's event
Ice cream sundaes and pies will be available for sale.
Farmer John of the Fabulous Beekman Boys will be on hand Sunday, also.
Empty Bowls will have crafts for kids and music for all to enjoy.
Clay and paint will be available for people who want to make bowls for next year's Empty Bowls.
"Based on the response, we're already planning this as an annual event," Ms. Hauser said.
She and Ms. Ansel-McCabe planned the event last spring "because hunger touches everyone," Ms. Hauser said.
But since Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, the need is far greater, she added.
"We all know people were displaced and people want to help," Ms. Hauser said.
"This is a community event that helps people, but it also has a fun element."
All proceeds will go to the county's 15 food pantries and the Butterfly Café, which serves hot meals to the homeless and others and is run by the Spirit of Hope.
"The Butterfly Café serves 130 people every Tuesday," said Spirit of Hope board member Julia Walter. "Please help."
Ms. Hauser is looking for volunteers to assist with serving. To volunteer or for more information, call her at 296-8122 or via email at Jacqui.hauser-@yahoo.com.