Handcrafted bowls and homemade soup draw hundreds

Colorful, well-crafted pottery bowls, paintings of bowls and a good cause enticed hundreds of people to Temple Baptist Church Thursday to enjoy many kinds of soups while being serenaded by live jazz music from Middle Street Moods.

About 850 people bought tickets to the third annual Empty Bowls fundraiser.

In the auditorium, people wandered among the tables holding bowls created by local artists.

Jim Bisbee, co-chair, representing the Craven County Arts Council, which shares in the benefits of the fundraiser with Religious Community Services, said about 20 potters donated bowls they made, about 40 artist donated paintings of bowls and potters from the Accidental Artist donated 240 bowls to the event.

Last year, Empty Bowls raised $20,000 for the arts community and RCS. This year that figure should be higher because more people bought tickets, Bisbee said.

Before the people even started coming in, Bisbee knew what to expect.

“It’s like Christmas morning out here,” he said. “It’s become tradition to get here early and try to get the best bowl.”

He picked up a smaller, abstract bowl created by Carole McCracken, a local potter, and looked at it.

“Some are very professional,” he said.

When he put it back on the table, a woman quickly picked it up.

“Aren’t these beautiful — so unusual,” she said.

Sandra Fulther and her friend Loretta Knowles, both of New Bern, picked out two bowls.

“It’s pretty awesome,” Knowles said.

“It’s hard to make a choice,” Fulther added.

Jim Foran and his wife Lucille of River Bend also had two bowls in bags as they made their way to the soup dining hall.

Foran’s wife said they decided to attend because it was a charitable event.

“It’s fantastic,” she said.

“It gives us a chance to browse around and meet people,” her husband added.

In the huge kitchen area, people lined up for everything from 15-bean soup, to Navy bean soup and many varieties of vegetable soups, all made by church volunteers or local restaurants and businesses.

Raynelle Perkins and Flo Beijier, volunteers from Centenary United Methodist Church Sara Quarter Circle, were putting the last touches on a large pot of vegetable beef soup.

The soup made by members of the Sara Quarter Circle was unique.

“Everybody made their own vegetable beef soup from their recipes and we poured it all together,” Perkins said. “It’s delish.”

“It’s made with love,” Beijier said.

Steve Mabie, co-chair, representing RSC, said the Empty Bowls event was a good boost for RCS.

“Our needs, particularly in this time, are growing and this is a wonderful way for the community to reach out,” Mabie said.

Sitting at a long table, finishing a container of vegetable soup after a container of black bean soup, Georgeann Castles of New Bern said this was her first time at the Empty Bowls fundraiser.

“It’s for a good cause,” she said. “And it is great to see so many people here.”

Eddie Fitzgerald can be reached at 252-635-5675 or at efitzgerald@freedomenc.com