Empty Bowls Dinner:  Community pulls together to benefit Tri-Lakes Cares

Empty bowls benefits Tri-Lakes Cares (tri-lakescares.org) a community-based, volunteer-supported, resource center whose purpose is to improve people’s lives through emergency, self-sufficiency and relief programs. As the only food pantry and human services organization located in, and serving the northern El Paso County, they are a critical resource for those in need. This year’s event will be held on October 4 from 5 to 7:30 PM.

The Empty Bowls program started here in 1992 when local potters Anne Shimek and Linda Pankratz organized local clubs to sponsor the Tri-Lakes event.  Initially held at the Mennonite Church, the event netted $3,500 local artists produced 350 bowls for this first event.

Four years later, Monument Hill Sertoma which is now Monument Hill Kiwanis stepped up to manage the event along with their Serteen Club (now K clubs), composed of local high school students.  Since 1998, the event has been held in Lewis-Palmer High School and students from several K Clubs staff functions critical to the event’s success.

Over the years, the number of bowls required has increased to 1,000 to match attendance. Many of the bowls are produced, start to finish at Clay N Colors, managed by Dusty Severn. Thanks to a generous donation from her landlord, John Dominowski, Clay N Colors provides studio time dedicated to this project, as well as materials, to potters one morning a week.

Ticket price has increased to $25 per person ($30 at the door).  Tickets may be purchased at the Kiwanis website (MHKiwanis.org) or at local businesses also listed on the web site. To facilitate family participation, one child under the age of 12 is admitted free with a ticket holding adult.  In addition to a hand-made bowl, patrons are provided a meal of soup, bread, beverage and dessert which are provided by donations from local restaurants, merchants, clubs, and churches.

This is the 30th annual Monument Hill Kiwanis Empty Bowls Dinner and Silent Auction managed by Tri-Lakes Cares.  The project is now dedicated solely to the support of Tri-Lakes Cares which, in recent years, has received more than $20,000 annually from the event.