Members of the Ceramics Club and POTS were still busy making bowls for this year’s event on the submission deadline, so here are some bowls featured at a previous Empty Bowls event. (Photo by Peggy McGee)
Peggy McGee
The 19th Annual Valley Assistance Services (VAS) fundraiser event is just around the corner, so mark your calendars for Saturday, Feb. 15, at Valley Presbyterian Church, 2800 S. Camino del Sol. To help prepare for the event, many members from the Quail Creek Pottery & Sculpture Studio (POTS) and Ceramics Clubs have been busy creating original bowls, which will be given to all attendees. These artisans are also making some specialty bowls, which will be sold.
This year Empty Bowls will be a seated event, with tickets being sold for 11 a.m., noon, and 1 p.m. meals. Tickets for $25 will go on sale beginning Jan. 15 at the VAS office located at 3950 Camino del Heroe (in the Springs HOA development), Nancy Pantz, the Green Valley/Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce, and Posada Java, or by contacting Quail Creek resident Peggy McGee at [email protected]. One can also pre-purchase raffle tickets at 6 for $5, 14 for $10, and 30 for $20 at Valley Assistance Services or from Peggy McGee. Advance purchase of raffle tickets will give attendees an opportunity to put address labels plus a phone number on the tickets.
The purpose of Empty Bowls is to bring awareness that, for many, one bowl of soup is all they will get to eat that day, as they are forced to choose whether to pay rent, utilities, medications, gas for their car, or buy groceries. This is your chance to help the less fortunate while enjoying some satisfying soup, a slice of French bread, and a cookie. There will be soup from about 20 local restaurants, including the Grill, for participants to enjoy. Attendees will choose from over 400 beautiful bowls and take home a unique, commemorative souvenir. The bowls are lovingly handmade by not only POTS and the Ceramic Clubs but also by crafters in Green Valley Rec and Tubac.
After they eat, attendees will be able to try to become a winner of one of the 50-plus raffle baskets. The prizes are made possible by the generosity of local retail establishments and crafts persons who willingly share their creative talents each year. One does not have to be present to win a raffle basket. In addition to the raffle, there will also be a Silent Auction featuring works of art, spa baskets, golf packages, and more.
All proceeds from Empty Bowls go to support the many services that VAS provides. These include help with rent and utilities, fall prevention, RN advocacy, support groups for those who have lost a family member, and memory loss/dementia programs for those suffering from any form of dementia, as well as their caregivers.
Valley Assistance Services’ goal is to raise $20,000 at this year’s event. Will you help them reach or even exceed that goal so that they can continue to serve over 7,700 residents in the local community during the year?