(Burbank, Calif., April 28, 2014) The Fourth Annual Empty Bowl Fundraiser is set for Sunday, June 1, 2014, at First United Methodist Church of Glendale, 134 N. Kenwood Street, Glendale.
The Arts & Crafts Fair begins at 11:30 a.m., and lunch is served anytime from 12 noon – 2:30 p.m. The event benefits Family Promise of the Verdugos (FPV) in their efforts to provide safe shelter, meals and support to homeless families.
Just weeks ago, FPV announced that due to a financial shortfall, services to families have been temporarily suspended while the organization fundraises and regroups. Empty Bowl is the first of many community events to raise money and awareness so that FPV can continue to end homelessness, one family at a time.
The Empty Bowl premise is simple: independent potters, arts associations and other groups within the community create handcrafted ceramic bowls. Guests who purchase adult tickets are entitled to a one-of-a-kind bowl, in which is served a simple meal of soup with bread and dessert donated by area restaurants. They take their selected bowl home with them as a symbol of the hunger and uncertainty homeless families face daily. Each year, hundreds of area residents attend this memorable event.
Event sponsors include the Burbank Association of Realtors Community Service Foundation and Nancy Kachline & Howard Fallman (Platinum Sponsors); Burbank Town Center, South Hills Church (Gold Sponsors); Philleen Meskin Real Estate/Re/Max Elite, Yvette Herrera and Wells Fargo Home Mortgage (Silver Sponsors); JW Smith Air Conditioning, Heating & General Contracting, Captain Denis Cremins, Mr. & Mrs. Ardy Kassakhian, Barbara Lazar and True Integrity Insurance & Payroll Services (Bronze Sponsors); Gold Street Creative Services, Patterson Graphics and First United Methodist Church of Glendale (In-Kind Sponsors). Food donors include Gary Bric’s Ramp, Grain Lab, Olive Garden, Portos Bakery & Café, Souplantation, The Spot Gourmet and Tin Horn Flats.
Local potters donating one-of-a-kind handmade bowls include Rosa Dennis, Debbie Henson, Michael Hirsch, Celeste Lida, Michael Law, Marjorie Manos, Philleen Meskin, Barbara Rog, Judy Springborn and Ellisa Weekley.
Family Promise of the Verdugos opened in July 2010 as one of over 182 networks across the country affiliated with Family Promise, a national non-profit organization committed to helping homeless families to achieve lasting independence. Family Promise helps mobilize communities to provide safe shelter, meals, and support services for low income families through programs designed to redress the underlying causes of homelessness. Family Promise of the Verdugos serves the geographic area that includes North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, and Eagle Rock, California through the participation of an Interfaith Hospitality Network of local congregations and volunteers.
Tickets are $30 for adults and $10 for children 11 or under. All money raised will further Family Promise of the Verdugos mission of assisting situationally homeless families. To purchase tickets or make a donation, visit http://familypromise.donordrive.com/event/Emptybowl/. For more information, please call 818-296-9770 or email info@familypromiseverdugos.org.
