Empty bowls filled in Lompoc

People lined up outside La Purisima Catholic Church's parish hall Wednesday, waiting for the doors to open at 11:30 a.m. so they could donate $20.

That donation allowed them to select a hand-made bowl, which they could take home, and eat a soup-and-bread lunch at the fourth annual Lompoc Empty Bowls Luncheon to benefit the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.

“Today has been a tremendous success,” said Kerry Aller, community relations manager for the Foodbank, who estimated that nearly 350 people attended this year.

During a brief speech of recognition and thanks, Executive Director Jim Mangis assured the crowd that the proceeds from the day's event would stay in the Lompoc Valley. Money raised will help provide food for Lompoc Foodbank member agencies such as Catholic Charities, Community Action Commission, Boys & Girls Club, Domestic Violence Solutions and Transitions Mental Health.

By noon, there was hardly a seat left though a steady stream of people continued to come in. The round tables cover in white cloths lent themselves to conversation as newcomers and returnees ate together.

Upon entering the hall, participants were led through a side room in which six tables were covered in bowls, vases, mugs and platters in colors that ranged from vibrant yellows, greens and blues to more earthen shades of gray, terra cotta and brown.

Once a bowl had been selected, it was time to queue up for some soup. On the menu were options such as Swiss potato, chicken tortilla, seafood chowder, tomato bisque, navy bean and vegetable, gazpacho and split pea.

Not only was the selection impressive, but the list of soup donors was too: La Botte, Catering by Lori Cordova, Mike Despres of the Lompoc Hospital, McConnell's, Saletti's, Sissy's Uptown Cafe, Sugar Magnolia's, Taco Roco and Tom's.

The selection of soups made choosing one difficult, but no matter - seconds, even thirds, were allowed.

And for those who chose a “bowl” not suited to supper, such as a vase or platter, Styrofoam bowls were available.

Water and bread were also provided, completing the meal.

While people ate and chatted, came and went, a cadre of volunteers moved about the room in their Foodbank aprons, selling raffle tickets for a colorful, bowl-themed quilt, or offering to clean and wrap the bowls so that participants could take their bowls with them when they left.

For Chuck and Barbara Arnold, attending the Lompoc Empty Bowls is an annual event.

“This is a wonderful event for the city, and I think it shows the spirit of the community with the restaurants that donate and the people who come,” Chuck said.

“And the soup is good, too,” Barbara said.

Another couple, Eileen Negus and Al Brewer, participate not only by coming to eat, but also by making and donating bowls. “I donated 24 bowls this year,” Brewer said.

“Empty Bowls got him started,” Negus said.

It was this event in 2006 and Empty Bowls Committee Member Alice Laufer's ceramics class that turned Brewer into a potter.

Committee members Alice Down and Trish Jordan explained that it was Joni Gray who suggested the Empty Bowls event for Lompoc after similar events had already been established in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara.

“Other communities do this event around the country,” Down added.

For Roger McConnell, a representative of signature sponsor Stillman Capital Group, the value of the Empty Bowls event was obvious immediately.

He became so impressed by the Foodbank's mission that he is now a member of its board of directors.

“They move 600,000 pounds of food and produce a month into the county. And it's not just the agencies that come to them, they go out and find needs to fill.”

Amanda Brooks can be reached at 737-1056 or abrooks@santamariatimes.com.

March 27, 2008