Sisters fund-raiser fights hunger

The second annual Empty Bowls Soup Dinner fund-raiser will be on Friday, April 20, at 6 p.m. held at the Sisters High School cafetorium.

While the local event was the idea of art teacher Mike Baynes, the concept actually came from an international project to fight hunger launched by art teachers in Michigan.

The school wanted to use the proceeds locally, however, so Empty Bowls hooked up with the Family Access Network (FAN).

At last year's event, $1,575 was raised for distribution to local families in need.

"Empty Bowls is one of my favorite events to plan and put on," said Mary Slavkovsky, a senior at Sisters High School.

Working with student Joel Meyer, Mary is in charge of ticket sales, organizing the meal, set up, clean up, and finding volunteers to help with the event.

Entertainment, in the form of mellow background music, will be provided during the meal by students from the Americana Project.

The evening's meal will be cooked up by Janice Comfort's culinary arts students.

"It will be some kind of simple soup with bread," explained Slavkovsky, "in keeping with the theme of feeding the hungry. There will also be dessert and beverages."

According to Comfort, there will be two different soups to choose from, and one will be a vegetarian recipe.

For the cost of $10, each person receives a hand-crafted soup bowl, dinner, and entertainment.

Children six and under eat free, and will dine from bowls provided by the cafeteria. All tickets will be presold, with only 120 tickets available.

Call Pinky Pagano at 549-4045 to purchase tickets.

The evening will also feature a silent auction, with theme gift baskets donated by the Sisters School District administration staff, Sisters Elementary School staff, Sisters Middle School staff and students, and Sisters High School staff.

Three Sisters Fellowship music ministry also made donations.

The bowls are made by Mike Baynes and his art students, with a few created by local potters Mitch Deaderick, Cheryl Guggenheim, Carol Kimball, and Blue Spruce Pottery.

The students have been throwing and glazing pots for this event since the fall.

The Aid Association of Lutherans, Branch #9212, has granted FAN $800 for the event. Members of the AAL from Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church will be at Empty Bows helping to set up and serve soup.

This is the second year the AAL, Branch #9212 has awarded FAN a grant to help with this event, and their community support is greatly appreciated by Theresa Slavkovsky, director of FAN.

"It is an event that brings the community together to help those in need," said Theresa. "Students, staff, and community members are all involved this year. People have already begun asking for tickets, and Empty Bowls promises to be a fun evening to benefit others this year."