Local artists are coming together to raise funds in support of food-insecure residents in the Woodland area.
The Lewis River Golf Course will host an empty bowl fundraising dinner from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 5, 3209 Old Lewis River Road, Woodland. The event will raise funds to support the Woodland Action Center, a nonprofit organization providing food and essential resources to local residents in need through its food bank.
Proceeds from ticket sales and a silent auction will help cover the Woodland Action Center’s operating costs, allowing it to continue its work in combating food insecurity. In August, the food bank served 412 families, distributing over 21,543 pounds of food. Tickets include a handcrafted ceramic bowl, along with a soup and bread meal.
DeeAnna Holland, board president of the Woodland Action Center, is thrilled for the event’s return after it went on hiatus since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. She emphasized that the annual fundraiser consistently brings the community together, even during the often divisive political climate before the holidays. This year marks the first time the dinner will be held at the Lewis River Golf Course, which volunteered its event hall and time free of charge — a gesture Holland said highlights the supportive spirit of the Woodland community.
“As soon as you have a need, people will step up and help their neighbor, and that’s the Woodland that I grew up in. And so when we have events like this, it just reminds me that the core values of the people who live in our community still exist,” Holland said. “Sometimes I need a reminder that without the support of the community, we wouldn’t be able to do all the things that we do.”
This will be the fourth year Clark College art students and their instructor Lisa Conway have volunteered to create ceramic bowls and other pieces of art for the silent auction. Artists from Fast Hawk Pottery in Woodland will also volunteer unique bowls and other artwork for bidding. Visitors will bid on gift baskets from local businesses, including gift cards and other items. In 2019, the Woodland Action Center raised $3,952 to continue operations.
Holland highlighted the symbolism of the empty bowls, which represent the fight against food insecurity. According to Food Lifeline, a Seattle-based nonprofit, one in 10 Washington residents face food insecurity. The evening will also include guest speakers sharing personal stories about how the Woodland Action Center’s programs have positively impacted their lives, highlighting the continued fight against hunger.
Tickets are $20 per individual. To learn more about the event, visit woodlandaction.org/events/5th-annual-empty-bowls-fundraising-dinner.
