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Filling shelter's coffers through Empty Bowls
Annual event raises funds for ECHO
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
 Click here to enlarge this photo Photos by WILLIAM MARSHALL
Pictured are some of the many handmade bowls created by local artists and students for the 10th annual Empty Bowl Supper.
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More than 200 people came together Saturday at the St. John Vianney Roman Catholic Church Family Life Center gymnasium to support Project ECHO in its fight to help the homeless in and around Calvert County.
ECHO's 10th annual Empty Bowl Supper was a collaborative effort by many churches, schools, local businesses and other organizations. At the supper, for an admission of $20, patrons received one of 570 handmade pottery bowls donated by local potters and students from Shepherds Hand, Barefoot Potters, Patuxent, Northern and Huntingtown high schools and Southern Middle School.
Several choices of soups were available, donated by local restaurants and catering companies. Salads, beverages, buffalo wings and bread were also available to all who attended. Food was served by local youth volunteers.
Every table at the event was adorned with flower arrangements placed inside handmade vases, which were also on sale with the proceeds benefitting Project ECHO. Every seat had placemats decorated by local children with statements like "Keep Nature" and "Go Green" emblazoned on them.
"[The bowls are] to send a subliminal message to remind people after they get home that there's someone out there who's hungry," said Mike Martin, a pottery teacher with the event's main contributing group, Shepherds Hand from Jesus the Good Shepherd Church in Owings.
He said the church's stewardship is what compels the group to contribute to the event. Work on the pottery began in January, he said.
Musical group 5:03 played a range of pop culture music from current and past artists all the way back to The Beatles. Unclouded Day preformed Christian bluegrass for the last few hours of the night to support the dinner and entertain guests.
The Rev. Ken Phelps, bassist and vocalist of 5:03, said, "If by our humble efforts we can make a difference, then by all means we're going to."
A silent auction was held during the event, auctioning off various items ranging from paintings and quilts to gift certificates donated by local restaurants. A laptop was also raffled off to support Project ECHO.
The gymnasium was full of visitors from a variety of backgrounds and denominations by 5 p.m., just 30 minutes after doors opened. Jerry Gaff, a visitor at the event, said, "It's nice that so many people are giving back to the community. This is my first time here and it really turned out nicely."
The event this year raised an estimated $21,544 total from contributors, $8,220 of which came from admission and donations at the door.
"If we could raise a quarter of our operating cost, we could show that we are doing our part," said Bill Stanton, president of Project ECHO's Board of Directors. "We did good this year."
Stanton also said that in the future, Project ECHO may put on multiple events because of the amount of work that is involved in this one dinner.
"It takes a lot of effort from a lot of people [to make the dinner happen]."
The dinner's donations were up $6,000 from last year's $15,000 in donations.
In 1992, Project ECHO began sheltering the homeless in Calvert, offering indiscriminate shelter for families and individuals alike. Its new facility in Prince Frederick has provided shelter and aid to individuals since its opening last October, finding jobs and housing for displaced individuals in and around Calvert County.
Local contributors included Maryland Country Caterers, Turnabout Inc., Bowens Grocery, Expressions Catering, Ruby Tuesday, Stoney's Seafood, Dream Weaver Cafe, Mike's Bar B Que and Catering, Herrington on the Bay, Heavenly Chicken & Ribs, The Greene Turtle, Mexico Restaurant, Bob Evans Restaurant, Panera Bread, Bilvil A Beaches Cafe, Sweet Sue's Bake Shop and Coffee Bar, Cakes by Jeneva, Saphron Restaurant, DuPaul's Catering, Garner & Duff Flower Shop, Giant, Safeway, Karen's of Calvert, Dunkirk Florist and Floral Expressions.
Flowers were arranged by the Calvert Garden Club consisting of donated and handpicked foliage. More than 30 local churches contributed to the event from a variety of different locations and denominations.
