MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY) — On a snowy winter day in late February, soup was the proper meal to eat and that's precisely what a whole bunch of individuals did Saturday to help Empty Bowls' Soup and Bread Luncheon Monongalia.
That is the group's first luncheon since 2020. About 1,500 individuals attended they usually have been in a position to increase about $20,00zero.
Established in 2006, Empty Bowls Monongalia hosts fundraisers to donate to meals pantries and different Monongalia County businesses that concentrate on closing the meals insecurity hole within the county.
Members paid on the door after which had the chance to strive as many soups as have been accessible, make new pals, and select ceramic bowls donated and made by college students from the WVU Ceramics Division and Wow Manufacturing facility. The soups have been donated by dozens of eating places and colleges within the space.
Organizers mentioned they’re able to hold their bills very low due to all of the donations made by the group and hold the decorations to a minimal, to allow them to additionally give attention to making it an environmentally acutely aware occasion.
“It is a fantastic group occasion and we need to be type not solely to the people who work right here but additionally to the environment,” mentioned Michael Miller, volunteer occasion coordinator.
Michael Miller and his spouse Tammy are in control of the volunteers and logistics for Vacuum Bowls Monongalia and after seeing how a lot waste occasions like this usually generate, they determined to start out implementing extra environmentally acutely aware practices, equivalent to utilizing extra reusable fabric gadgets and compostable bowls and glasses.
“We’re sorting all waste into rubbish that must be taken to landfills, into recycled waste and into compostable waste. We’ve got additionally used fewer merchandise that may be categorized as trash,” Miller mentioned.
There have been about 400 volunteers at this 12 months's luncheon who helped arrange the occasion, and lots of contributors informed 12 Information they want to signal as much as volunteer subsequent 12 months.
Paula Lemasters is a faculty cook dinner in Monongalia County and helped put together a soup and took part within the occasion for the primary time.
“Properly, right this moment we donated soup from Westwood Excessive Faculty, 9 gallons of stuffed pepper soup. And right here it appeared to go fairly quick,” Lemasters mentioned. “I feel it's vital, all the cash goes to assist, , the hungry; there are a whole lot of hungry individuals in Mon County, so I felt prefer it was an excellent trigger.”
Their subsequent massive occasion received't be till the autumn, however you may donate all 12 months spherical. For extra details about volunteering or donating, go to the Vacuum Bowls Monongalia web site.
The group has already introduced subsequent 12 months's Soup and Bread Luncheon which is able to happen on February 22, 2025.