The Highlands Food Pantry’s largest fundraising event, Empty Bowls, is scheduled for this weekend.
Food Pantry director Bonnie Dayton said that money from the event is used to supply the pantry for the year.
“This fundraiser raises a considerable amount of money that we use to purchase food and keep the supplies stocked for the community,” Dayton said. “I think it is important because it gives an opportunity for a lot of the local businesses to get involved and give back to the community.”
The Highlands Food Pantry provides food assistance to residents of Highlands and the surrounding communities. The pantry offers a variety of produce, protein, dairy, grains and a wide selection of non-perishable items.
“We pride ourselves on our ability to provide clients with a bounty of healthy and nutritious items. Our partnership with MANNA FoodBank allows us to source large amounts of goods for an affordable price,” Dayton said. “As a member of The Emergency Food Assistance Program, we’re able to provide an even larger amount of food to our clients. Thanks to our generous donors, we have been able to enhance the quality of our product offerings and support local farmers by purchasing fresh produce and protein.”
Each year, the Food Pantry partners with The Bascom, who provides empty pottery bowls.
“Every year, The Bascom has volunteers that hand make each bowl for us to use,” Dayton said. “We then ask each restaurant to donate one of their specialty soups. They then donate five gallons of that soup. Then the community is able to buy a bowl of soup and an empty handmade pottery bowl from The Bascom.”
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the fundraiser will be set up like a drive-thru, with contactless pick-up.
“We want to make sure that everybody that comes out is healthy and safe, as well as our volunteers,” Dayton said. “We will be serving all of our soup in plastic containers.”
The event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 25, from 11:30 a.m., to 1:30 p.m., at the First Presbyterian Church of Highlands, 471 Main Street.
The Food Pantry is staffed by 70+ volunteers and feeds more than 4,000 people a year.
- By Christopher Smith