Food Bank Fundraiser Aims To Broaden Awareness of Hunger

They received raffle prizes, warm soup, and, at the end, empty bowls. About 75 people gathered together at Rockville Presbyterian Fellowship to raise money for the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano, Tuesday evening.

The event, called “Empty Bowls” featured an array of bowls, all hand decorated and donated that diners could choose to eat from. Assemblywoman Mariko Yamada was among the guests that attended and spoke at the engagement.

“We know that hunger knows no boundaries of either age, ethnicity, religion, or gender,” Yamada said.

One of the most important goals of the night was spreading the message of the intense need in the area.  

“I think the whole idea is to, obviously, raise money, but I think as much to raise awareness,” said Larry Sly, Executive Director of Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano. “There are people in our community who don’t have food, that do in fact have empty bowls in their house with nothing to fill it. So it’s a way of kind of sharing the sense that we all should be helping fill each other’s bowls in the community so we will not have hungry people.”

Food bank warehouses in both Concord and Fairfield help to provide 180 nonprofit agencies with food for throughout Solano and Contra Costa Counties. Rockville Presbyterian Fellowship, too, provides hot meals twice a week, working with Mission Solano for over five years.

The event featured live piano playing from music teacher Joan Gaut, and singing filled the room during a brief intermission led by her husband and A silent auction was also held for a month of piano or vocal instruction, four sessions to be taught by Joan.

Food Bank Development Director and Suisun City resident Marilu Boucher praised the event as a great way to get the message out.

“This is a really meaningful event for the community,” said Boucher.