Empty Bowls 2022

On behalf of the Pine Tree Potters' Guild, I would like to express our gratitude to everyone who participated in our 13th Annual Empty Bowls on Nov. 17, 2022 at Newmarket's Old Town Hall.

Empty Bowls events are held by potters in communities throughout North America to raise funds and awareness for local charities that work to relieve hunger and homelessness within their community. The two local charities Pine Tree Potters' Guild Empty Bowls fundraiser supports are Welcoming Arms, Aurora and Inn From The Cold, Newmarket . For 2022, we are thrilled to report that our event raised $24,800, therefore, Welcoming Arms Aurora and Inn From the Cold Newmarket have each received $12,400!

From 2010-2019, we hosted our event at the Aurora Cultural Centre, which is now undergoing major and exciting renovations. In 2020 and 2021, we held "bowl sale only" events that were very successful, thanks to the overwhelming support of the community. In 2022, we returned to the format of our traditional bowls and soup event, but this time at Newmarket's Old Town Hall.

As Pine Tree Potters' Guild is comprised of members from across York Region, we were grateful for the opportunity to extend awareness and participation in our Empty Bowls event to an even wider audience.

To give you an idea of how it works, before the meal, patrons choose a soup bowl from the hundreds on display in our bowls room. Pine Tree Potters work all year to create approximately 500 bowls, which are all donated so patrons entering our bowls room are captivated by the sheer artistry.

After selecting a bowl, they proceed to our dining auditorium where local culinary establishments are ready to serve a ladle of their signature gourmet soups and artisan breads, all donated as well. After guests enjoy multiple dishes of these delicious soups, they take their selected handmade bowl home to serve as a gentle reminder that not everyone has a full bowl every day.

This year the following 25 local culinary establishments, from Newmarket and Aurora, donated gourmet soup and bread for all to enjoy and we are very thankful for their support:

We extend a heartfelt thank you to Meridian Credit Union for a very generous grant and support in selling tickets ahead of the event.

Thank you to the staff at Newmarket's Old Town Hall for their assistance to ensure our event went off without a hitch.

Thank you to Joy Gannicott and Nick Mustafa, the pianists who played beautiful music while patrons enjoyed their soups.

Thank you to our sponsors, Tucker's Pottery Supplies , for donating the clay used by our potters for crafting the bowls, to David Schembri Design for his artistry and to Allegra Print Aurora for donating our printed materials.

Thank you to our dedicated volunteers who donated their time and skills to ensure the success of our event.

Finally, thank you to the community who continue to purchase tickets and bowls, enabling our guild to raise these much needed funds for Inn From the Cold and Welcoming Arms.

Stay tuned into Pine Tree Potters' Guild Instagram, Facebook, and website for information on 2023's Empty Bowls event, we look forward to seeing you there!

Lisa-Marie Oliphant
Chair, Empty Bowls Fundraiser, Pine Tree Potters' Guild