The Empty Bowl fundraiser was held Friday evening, March 29,  at the Garten Verein venue in Galveston. This is the largest social action event sponsored by this Fellowship, and the money raised supports the nutrition programs of the Jesse Tree organization. Members and friends of this Fellowship have been meeting weekly in our RE room to make and decorate ceramic bowls for this event. When the bowls are all arranged on tables for ticket holders at the event to select, they make a stunning sight.  This year, we brought nearly 400 bowls to the event so all participants were able to go home with a one-of-a-kind memento of the evening.      

This year approximately $27,000 (preliminary figures) was raised for the Jesse Tree.   The Garten Verein was beautifully decorated by Ted Hanley, executive director of the Jesse Tree, and his volunteers.  The sponsored tables had a bottle of wine and a flower arrangement, a place setting and a menu at each seat.  Background music on the keyboard provided by Hector Bizio was a great addition to the event and really enlivened the evening.   Professional bartenders made beverage selection effortless as plentiful glasses of a large selection of wines was available for our enjoyment.  Soup selections from local restaurants were, as usual, delicious, and desserts were plentiful.

 Preparation of the bowls started two days in advance of the event, with washing and repacking all of the bowls for transit. On Friday evening, all bowls were covered with plastic wrap for cleanliness and displayed in the center of the room.  They were kept covered until the stroke of 6:00, when the covers were removed and participants crowded the tables to make their selections. Our members volunteered in many capacities–as bowl washers, unpackers and arrangers, ticket takers, traffic directors and silent auction helpers.   Bets Anderson coordinated an impressive silent auction that brought in  $2212.  Included with the selection of bowls made by the UU Bowlers were a number of bowls and decorative hand thrown pieces by the late Colorado potter Bertha Gotterup. These generated much interest and admiration and brought in some impressive sums.

Preparing for this event has become a regular “labor of love” for many of our members who meet weekly for an enjoyable evening of bowl making and socializing.  Knowing that our creative efforts have a higher purpose in helping to provide food for disadvantaged people in Galveston gives meaning and purpose to our efforts. There is no other non-profit fundraiser in Galveston like it, and there are many people on the island who have amassed large collections of our handmade bowls!  All of us can take pride in knowing we are helping to make a difference in fighting hunger in our community. 

The Bowlers will start meeting again  for next year’s event after some well deserved rest.   The date will be announced soon. For information, contact Madeleine  Baker, madbaker3124@gmail.com.