by Lisa Schauer
A dozen local restaurants, including Lot 12, The County Inn, Roy’s, Charlotte’s Café and others, are donating soup for the annual fundraiser to support Starting Points’ mealtime community kitchen.
Empty Bowls will be held Friday, September 19 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the American Legion in Berkeley Springs.
Tickets are available at the door. That includes your choice of a handmade glass or ceramic bowl wrapped to take home, and a meal of soup, bread, and a drink served by members of the Berkeley Springs High School FFA.
Musicians from BlackCat Music Shop will entertain attendees. A silent auction will offer up themed gift baskets, jewelry, gift certificates to local businesses and more.
Door prizes, cash and carry items, and a 50/50 raffle will be available. Jay Lawyer is hosting an online auction September 7 to 21 to benefit the free meal service.
Organizers say they’re prepared to feed 100 guests. They hope to raise as much as possible to support the community kitchen, which made over 17,000 meals last year.
“This is probably the highest number of meals we’ve made in eight to ten years,” said Audrey Morris, executive director of Starting Points. The agency started the kitchen in 2004.
The Mealtime Community Kitchen serves free hot meals to go every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Pickup for the meals is in the parking lot at 106 Sand Mine Road, the senior center building and home of several community service agencies.
Meals are provided to anyone, no questions asked. Between 150 to 190 people are fed each time the community kitchen is open.
Funding is provided by grants and donations. Food is donated by Food Lion, Berkeley Springs farmers market, local egg farmers and gardeners, and ingredients are purchased through other sources.
Volunteers from organizations including CNB Bank, Edward Jones, and First United Methodist Church deliver food from the kitchen to waiting vehicles. A part-time cook is employed to create the meals.
For more information about Empty Bowls, Starting Points and the Mealtime Kitchen can visit www.starting-points.org.
