What a Difference a Year Makes!

One year ago, back before COVID, we celebrated Bennington Empty Bowls. In the run-up to the 2019 Bennington Empty Bowls Soup Supper, members of the Steering Committee put their heads together to prepare for the event. In fact, there were hundreds of people working behind the scenes to address local food insecurity. What a difference a year makes!

For example, local chefs shared their soup ideas, and our Soup Coordinators worked with them to ensure we had an interesting variety of soups. We had vegetarian, vegan, dairy, non-dairy and gluten free options. Additionally, Bennington College students enrolled in three different academic courses were in and out of the GBICS building, making soups, distributing soups to Kitchen Cupboard guests, sharing soup at the Farmers Market to promote the Empty Bowls event and studying the culture of food and soup on campus and beyond. Thanks to the students enrolled in Ceramics and CAPA faculty member Yoko Inoue’s “Social Kitchen” course, community members crafted hundreds of ceramic bowls for the event. Funding for these activities came from the Mellon Foundation’s grant to the college to develop course work around food systems.

Meanwhile, ticket sellers were busy making tickets available in the community. And of course, none of this would have been possible if not for members of the GBICS staff and Board of Directors soliciting financial support from local businesses.

Finally, on November 17, the day of the event came! Scores of volunteers and students arrived early at the Mount Anthony Union Middle School to prepare. They set and decorated tables with cheerful orange napkins and cups. Meanwhile, other volunteers distributed student ‘zines across the tables to share info about food security. All in all, the scene was delightfully festive. Just before we opened the doors to the public, volunteer coordinators divided all the helpers into teams. Clad in bright orange T-shirts and white Empty Bowls aprons, volunteers dispersed to their stations.

Then guests started to arrive. We learned from previous years, so there was only a short line at the door as people began to trickle in. Soon the trickle grew to a stream and the stream, into a river. By the end of the evening, more than 1000 people had taken part in the evening! We were ecstatic and exhausted. As we tidied up, we chatted. “Can you believe the numbers?” “How could we ever again have an event this successful?” “Can’t wait until next year.”

And then came COVID.

We realized in spring 2020 that we were unlikely to be able to host the community Empty Bowls Soup Supper in November 2020. But we were hopeful, so it took us until mid-summer to accept that fact.

And here we are. We would love to be counting down the days until we can serve soup to hundreds of our friends and neighbors on the third Sunday in November. But this year, life as we know it is on hold. Numbers of COVID cases are rising around the country and the world. We can’t have a party this year.

COVID has wrought further havoc on the lives of families living in and near poverty. Many people have lost their jobs or lost hours of work each week for weeks and months on end. Some may never return to work. It is estimated currently that one in every four Vermont households is facing food insecurity. And we continue to experience an increase in COVID cases nationwide.

The need is greater now than ever before. 

Donations can be made between November 1 and November 15 through our Go-Fund-Me page.  We will, of course, also accept donations through the GBICS website (www. gbicsbennington.org) or by check (GBICS Empty Bowls, PO Box 702, Bennington, VT  05201.) 

In order to be successful, we ask that after you make your own donation, that you forward this request to three of your friends who share your concern for those in our community who are experiencing food insecurity. Just think of the impact we could have if each of your friends then sent on the message to three of their friends who share this concern! Please support 2020 BENNINGTON EMPTY BOWLS, COVID EDITION. For additional information about GBICS or EMPTY BOWLS, please call (802) 447-3700.