On the Town: Outside heat, inside warmth at Empty Bowl event
Granted, with last Sunday’s temps reaching toward the triple-digit mark, supporters of Family Promise of the Verdugos may have found it more apropos to have their bowls filled with ice cream rather than soup at their annual Empty Bowl fundraiser.
And yet, a caring cauldron of community love was on display as ladles of steaming goodness were dished out to raise funds for the local chapter of Family Promise, one of 190 affiliates nationwide, whose mission is to assist situationally homeless families.
This year’s event — which invited supporters to select a ceramic bowl handcrafted by a local artisan and use the vessel to enjoy a variety of soups provided by local eateries — took place at Albert Hall at St. Finbar Catholic Church.
Empty Bowl events, which began in Michigan in the early 1990s, have become an international, grassroots effort to fight hunger in America. The premise: local potters and arts associations create and donate the bowls for guests to purchase as their lunch receptacle.
They then take their bowl home to serve as an artistic symbol of the hunger and uncertainty homeless families face on a daily basis.
Established in 2010, the local chapter works with homeless families to help them achieve lasting independence. Partnering with a network of local interfaith congregations and volunteers, they also provide safe shelter, meals and support services such as counseling and job readiness for those in the Burbank, North Hollywood, Glendale and Eagle Rock areas.
Supporters at this year’s Empty Bowl, which included Burbank Mayor Jess Talamantes and Councilwoman Emily Gabel-Luddy, were welcomed by Albert Hernandez, the organization’s executive director, Renee Johnson, board president, and Nancy Guillen, vice president.
Among those who made this year’s event a success included the group’s board members Darrin Borders, Yvette Herrera, Sandra Thompson, Alex Bruno, Miryam Finkelberg, Robert Goetsch, Robert Hill, Carolyn Jackson, Barbara Lazar, Zizette Mullins, Lisa Patino and Geraldine Ramos-Alvarenga.
Others who played an instrumental role in staging the event were Family Promise staff members Raul Cruz, Melodee Sims, Vivian Simmons, Janice Casazza, Norma Serrano, Serge Shahinian, Aylin Cervantes and Krystal Flores, as well as members of the advisory board composed of Toni Beck-Espinoza, Michael Cusumano, Sam Jr. and Kathryn Engel, Laura Friedman, Jenny Smith Greene, Debbie Kukta, Lynn Kronzek, Elizabeth Manasserian, Ara Najarian, Pat and Laurie Patterson, Rev. Ross Purdy, Marsha Ramos, Sandy Talamantes, Joylene Wagner and Christine Walters.
This annual undertaking — which includes set up and soup preparation, assistance in the selection of bowls, serving and clean-up duties — could not happen without the help of numerous volunteers who this year included representatives from the local National Charity League chapter and YMCA as well as the Walt Disney Co.’s VoluntEARS.
For more information about Family Promise of the Verdugos, its upcoming events and volunteer and support opportunities, visit familypromiseverdugos.org.
--
DAVID LAURELL may be reached by email at dlaurell@aol.com or (818) 563-1007.
