From the left: CFS Team Leader Jane Schoones and CFS Director Sheila Lefebvre are seen during the 2024 Empty Bowls fundraiser for Community Food Share held on Feb. 10 at the Christian Reformed Church in Williamsburg. Thompson Goddard Photo

WILLIAMSBURG – Empty Bowls 2024, the signature fundraising event for Community Food Share (CFS), was held at the Christian Reformed Church in Williamsburg on Feb. 10.

One hundred and twenty-five tickets were sold for the fundraiser, with participants able to enjoy a luncheon and music from Claude Plamondon and Friends, and socialize, while supporting CFS. All proceeds from the event go “directly to the operation of Community Food Share’s two area food banks,” indicated a press release from CFS.  These food banks are located in Winchester and Morrisburg.

The sold-out event featured soup, bread and refreshments which were all donated by local caterers and bakeries, with local potters Heidi Blokland, Debbie Gilmer, Monique O’Brien and Diane Sullivan creating and donating 70 ceramic soup bowls. “It always amazes me how quickly the handcrafted bowls sell out,” commented CFS Team Leader Jane Schoones.

Soup for the event was donated by Simply Baked Catering and Iron Forge Pizza in Winchester as well as South Mountain’s Sandy Row Golf Club, with bread donated by Bitty Birds Bakery (gluten free) in Iroquois, Simply Baked Catering in Winchester and Lightning Street Italian Gourmet.  Butter for the event was donated by Lactalis in Winchester, with water donated by Iroquois Foodland, coffee from Osgoode’s No Go Coffee Co. and sweet treats provided by Bitty Birds Bakery, Winchester Foodland and Sherry’s in Williamsburg.

“We are delighted with the response from our supporters,” commented Schoones in the press release, before continuing to say, “We truly appreciate the kindness of the individuals and businesses that supported this event, including the merchants who helped to sell our tickets.”

Diners were able to peruse a silent auction “featuring several high interest items” which were donated by people and businesses in the community.  These included tickets to theatrical events and Ottawa Redblacks games, season passes to Countryside Adventures, gift baskets from Smirlholm Farms, Glen Briggs Woodworks and Stone Crop Acres as well as several items from Winchester BMR and two boxes of caramels from Scheeps Caramels Co.

CFS kicked off the sale of the Spring Cash Calendar tickets during the Empty Bowls event.  The fundraiser features “a cash draw taking place every day during the month of May,” with tickets soon to be available at local retailers.

More information on the role of CFS in our community and fundraising events such as the Spring Cash Calendar can be obtained on the organization’s Facebook page and website located at www.communityfoodshare.ca.