“Empty Bowls” event raises $6,163 for Yachats, Waldport food pantries

YACHATS — Thanks to local volunteers, pottery makers and businesses, the food banks in Yachats and Waldport are now better-funded to the tune of $6,163.

That’s the amount raised by an “Empty Bowls” fundraiser at Yachats Community Presbyterian Church on Sunday. The sold-out event brought in much more than the ticket sales would indicate.

Under the leadership of Lori Stevens of Yachats, tickets for 100 soup bowls made by Coastal Community Clay in Waldport were sold in advance at $25 each. That alone netted $2,500. However, thanks to a silent auction, the sale of driftwood centerpieces, 50 added bowls and cash donations made during the fundraiser, the final tally soared to more than $6,100.

“This community pulls together so incredibly,” said Stevens. “To get thousands more on the spot in just about an hour? It really shocked me.”

All the proceeds will benefit the food pantry at the Presbyterian church and the Waldport Food Share food bank.

Each attendee chose a hand-made bowl and then picked their soup, bread and dessert. Food was provided by Ona Restaurant, Chubby Lil’ Mermaid, Bread & Roses, the Drift Inn and Pacific Sourdough, along with individual volunteers.

Empty Bowls was such a success that it is now planned to be an annual event

The Yachats food pantry got an even bigger, unexpected boost that evening. Jim Finlayson, the pantry’s food buyer, was addressing the group when Donna McCrea, owner of Grocery Outlet in Newport, rushed up and announced that her store would cover all of the pantry’s food expenses for April. Finlayson estimated the pantry’s weekly food bill at $800. McCrea has been a big contributor to the Yachats pantry for years.

While “Empty Bowls” is a global initiative, the local event was the first staged in Yachats.

— Cheryl Romano/Lincoln Chronicle