'Soup'-er benefit set to help hungry, homeless
— Photo by MARY MALONE Joanne Barlow, left, program manager for Bonner Homeless Transitions at Trestle Creek, and Nannette Heintzelman, right, of Tremendous Truffles show off some of the handpainted bowls that will be available for purchase and filled with potato leek soup at the “Empty Bowl” event this Saturday.
SANDPOINT — Soup kitchens first appeared in America in 1929 as the Great Depression era began to sweep the country. An "Empty Bowl" fundraiser this Saturday, with a theme of "A Fair to Remember," will emulate Depression era soup lines, said event organizer Nannette Heintzelman.
During the event, $20 will purchase a bowl filled with potato leek soup, as well as bread and a chocolate truffle. Soup will be provided by Tango Cafe and the truffles will be provided by Heintzelman, owner of Tremendous Truffles. She said about 200 of the handpainted bowls will be available with the hope of filling each one.
In conjunction with National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, will benefit two local organizations that help the hungry and the homeless — Bonner Homeless Transitions and Bonner Community Food Bank.
"They do their own fundraisers, but this is kind of cool cause we are working together and doing it together," Heintzelman said.
While Heintzelman said she started the "Empty Bowl" event two years ago, this is the first year Bonner Homeless Transitions has taken part in it. Tamie Martinsen, program manager of the Blue Haven transitional home in Sandpoint, said the organization does something each year for National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, which is Nov. 12 through Nov. 20.
"Because it focuses on homelessness and hunger, it's kind of a natural fit that we partner with the food bank on some things," Martinsen said.
Entertainment will include music by the local band "Mobius Riff" and performances by Sandpoint Taekwondo and Martial Arts Center and Allegro Dance Studio. Heintzelman said there will be pictures of shoes where people can write down what they think those people do — to "walk in someone else's shoes." There will also be pumpkins, which people can write on to say what they are thankful for. A bean bag toss and a raffle are some of the other activies planned for the evening. The majority of raffle prizes are gift certificates donated from local businesses, Heintzelman said.
Each organization will have a table set up with information as well. Martinsen said Bonner Homeless Transitions will have a "Game of Life," with different mini-poverty scenarios to give people an idea of the struggles people in poverty go through.
"We are seeing requests for services equivalent to what we saw during the recession," Martinsen said, adding that Bonner Homeless Transitions, with two locations, currently has about 10 families on its waiting list.
Debbie Love, manager of the food bank, said information will be available at the food bank's table on how to get involved and volunteer.
She said it is the second year the food bank has been involved in the "Empty Bowl" event and she is thankful for the opportunity it brings. Any money raised for the food bank will help feed the approximately 100 families served each day.
"We are just excited about the event and the awareness for the community," Love said.
The event will take place from 4-8 p.m. Saturday at the Columbia Bank Building, 414 Church Street in Sandpoint. Games are free and raffle tickets will be available for $1 or six for $5. Bring a nonperishable food item for the food bank and receive a free raffle ticket.