5Cities Homeless Coalition is encouraging community members to join its final Saturday of the Empty Bowls fundraiser on Saturday, Sept. 25.
According to 5Cities, Empty Bowls benefits families who are homeless or are facing homelessness. This year, each purchased ticket includes a hand-crafted bowl donated by local artists and a coupon for a free bowl of soup from participating local restaurants.
Before the pandemic, the fundraiser was a community luncheon where hundreds of people would be served soup in their new bowls.
"Our traditional event when you walk up with your soup its really kind of a humbling event, you see what it would be like to be somebody who's currently homeless to walk into a soup line and get served lunch every day," said 5 Cities Homeless Coalition associate director Devon McQuade, "Its kind of to bring awareness to the plight of those who are unhoused in our community."
Tickets are $25 each. 5Cities says the cost of every ticket goes directly to supporting the community.
Those who purchase tickets can participate on any of the three separate Saturdays, at any of the three locations (tickets are valid on any of the following dates):
- Saturday, Sept. 11 from 10am-1pm at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church (501 Fair Oaks Ave., Arroyo Grande)
- Saturday, Sept. 18 from 10am-1pm at the Trilogy Monarch Activity Center (1645 Trilogy Parkway, Nipomo)
- Saturday, Sept. 25 from 10am-1pm at New Life Community Church (990 James Way, Pismo Beach)
A list of participating local restaurants, artists, and event sponsors can be found here.
