Fill Up on Soup and Help the Hungry

If you want to help people in need, all you have to do is fill up a bowl with soup.

Empty Bowls, a fund-raiser for the Homeless Assistance Leadership Organization (HALO) and the Racine County Food Bank, will be held Monday.

A labor of love for hundreds of volunteers, organizers say well over 1,000 empty bowls are ready for the community to fill.

“It’s community taking care of the community,” said Heidi Fannin, the chair for the event.

Artists, children, and area businesses have donated the handmade bowls. Area restaurants and individuals, including Sebastian’s, of Caledonia, have made well over 100 different types of soup. Several area bakeries have made and donated bread.  And live music will be provided for entertainment. There’s also a silent auction.

Between the music, the volunteers, the food and the collaboration of so many people, the event has a great community feel, Fannin said.

“Everyone is just giving and what’s cool is that our costs are low so most of the money we raise goes to the Racine County Food Bank and HALO,” Fannin said. “Basically, you pick a bowl, and eat as much as you want.”

Last year the group served almost 1,200 people and the group raised $22,000.

The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday, March 7 at the Racine Masonic Center, 1011 Main St. The cost of the event is $15, which includes the bowl and all the soup you can eat. If you want soup to go, the cost is $7. For children who wish to eat from a paper bowl, the cost is $5.