The 5Cities Homeless Coalition hosted its seventh annual Empty Bowls Community Luncheon on Wednesday, raising thousands of dollars for programs to help the homeless.
For $25, attendees at the event in Arroyo Grande were given a handmade bowl by a local artist and served a simple meal of soup and bread.
Chefs from some of the area’s most popular restaurants created the gourmet soups which were served by local celebrities.
Empty Bowls has become a popular tradition for local organizations that provide services to people in need.
The 5Cities Homeless Coalition serves the southern San Luis Obispo County area.
“What makes our program so successful is, we don’t just help someone get into a house or get into an apartment, (we) fix their problems, help them learn how to budget, all that kind of stuff but we continue to work with them,” said Michael Byrd, 5Cities Homeless Coalition President.
Byrd expects this year’s Empty Bowls event to beat last year’s fundraising goal.
